Object detection using dynamic probability scans
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for detecting an object in an image, the method comprising:
- scanning a sequence of pixels in the image, each pixel having one or more property values associated with properties of the pixel; and
generating a dynamic probability value for each of one or more pixels in the sequence, wherein the dynamic probability value for a given pixel represents a probability that the given pixel has neighboring pixels in the sequence that correspond to one or more features of the object and the dynamic probability value is generated by;
identifying a dynamic probability value associated with a pixel that immediately precedes the given pixel in the sequence;
updating, the identified dynamic probability value based on the property values of the immediately preceding pixel; and
associating the updated probability value with the given pixel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for detecting an object in an image. The techniques include scanning a sequence of pixels in the image, each pixel having one or more property values associated with properties of the pixel, and generating a dynamic probability value for each of one or more pixels in the sequence. The dynamic probability value for a given pixel represents a probability that the given pixel has neighboring pixels in the sequence that correspond to one or more features of the object. The dynamic probability value is generated by identifying a dynamic probability value associated with a pixel that immediately precedes the given pixel in the sequence; updating the identified dynamic probability value based on the property values of the immediately preceding pixel; and associating the updated probability value with the given pixel.
83 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for detecting an object in an image, the method comprising:
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scanning a sequence of pixels in the image, each pixel having one or more property values associated with properties of the pixel; and
generating a dynamic probability value for each of one or more pixels in the sequence, wherein the dynamic probability value for a given pixel represents a probability that the given pixel has neighboring pixels in the sequence that correspond to one or more features of the object and the dynamic probability value is generated by;
identifying a dynamic probability value associated with a pixel that immediately precedes the given pixel in the sequence;
updating, the identified dynamic probability value based on the property values of the immediately preceding pixel; and
associating the updated probability value with the given pixel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A computer-implemented method for detecting an object in an image, the method comprising:
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scanning a sequence of pixels in the image, each pixel having one or more property values for one or more properties of the pixel;
calculating a set of feature probability values for each of one or more pixels in the sequence, each feature probability value representing a probability that the pixel corresponds to a feature of the object, each feature probability in the set corresponding to a different feature of the object; and
using the feature probability values to calculate an object probability value for the pixel, the object probability value representing the probability that the pixel corresponds to the object, wherein each feature probability includes a dynamic probability value that is generated by;
identifying the dynamic probability value of an immediately preceding pixel in the sequence;
updating the identified dynamic probability value to account for the intrinsic properties of the immediately preceding pixel; and
associating the updated probability value with the pixel. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A computer-implemented method for detecting an object in an image, the method comprising:
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identifying a set of candidate pixels in the image; and
reducing the number of pixels in the set of candidate pixels by performing a dynamic probability scan of the image, wherein performing the dynamic probability scan includes;
scanning a sequence of pixels in the image, each pixel having one or more intrinsic properties including one or more color values; and
generating a dynamic probability value for each of one or more pixels in the sequence, wherein the dynamic probability value for a given pixel represents a probability that the given pixel has neighboring pixels in the sequence that correspond to a feature of the object and the dynamic probability value is generated by;
identifying the dynamic probability value generated for a pixel that immediately precedes the given pixel in the sequence;
updating the identified dynamic probability value to account for the intrinsic properties of the immediately preceding pixel; and
associating the updated probability value with the given pixel. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A computer-implemented method for detecting an object in an image, the method comprising:
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scanning a sequence of pixels in the image; and
calculating a dynamic probability value for a pixel in the sequence of pixels based on the following equation;
pD(x+1)=p(x)+w*pD(x),wherein; x represents a position in the sequence;
p(x) is an intrinsic probability value representing the probability that a pixel located at position x corresponds to a feature of the object;
pD(x) is a dynamic probability value representing the probability that a pixel located at position x has neighboring pixels in the sequence that correspond to a feature of the object; and
w is a weighting coefficient that determines how influence pD(x) has on pD(x+1).
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15. A computer-program product, tangibly embodied in a computer readable medium, for detecting an object in an image, the computer program product being operable to cause data processing equipment to perform operations comprising:
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scanning a sequence of pixels in the image, each pixel having one or more property values associated with properties of the pixel; and
generating a dynamic probability value for each of one or more pixels in the sequence, wherein the dynamic probability value for a given pixel represents a probability that the given pixel has neighboring pixels in the sequence that correspond to one or more features, of the object and the dynamic probability value is generated by;
identifying a dynamic probability value associated with a pixel that immediately precedes the given pixel in the sequence;
updating the identified dynamic probability value based on the property values of the immediately preceding pixel; and
associating the updated probability value with the given pixel. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer-program product, tangibly embodied in a computer readable medium, for detecting an object in an image, the computer program product being operable to cause data processing equipment to perform operations comprising:
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scanning a sequence of pixels in the image, each pixel having one or more property values for one or more properties of the pixel;
calculating a set of feature probability values for each of one or more pixels in the sequence, each feature probability value representing a probability that the pixel corresponds to a feature of the object, each feature probability in the set corresponding to a different feature of the object; and
using the feature probability values to calculate an object probability value for the pixel, the object probability value representing the probability that the pixel corresponds to the object, wherein each feature probability includes a dynamic probability value that is generated by;
identifying the dynamic probability value of an immediately preceding pixel in the sequence;
updating the identified dynamic probability value to account for the intrinsic properties of the immediately preceding pixel; and
associating the updated probability value with the pixel. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A computer-program product, tangibly embodied in a computer readable medium, for detecting an object in an image, the computer program product being operable to cause data processing equipment to perform operations comprising:
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identifying a set of candidate pixels in the image; and
reducing the number of pixels in the set of candidate pixels by performing a dynamic probability scan of the image, wherein performing the dynamic probability scan includes;
scanning a sequence of pixels in the image, each pixel having one or more intrinsic properties including one or more color values; and
generating a dynamic probability value for each of one or more pixels in the sequence, wherein the dynamic probability value for a given pixel represents a probability that the given pixel has neighboring pixels in the sequence that correspond to a feature of the object and the dynamic probability value is generated by;
identifying the dynamic probability value generated for a pixel that immediately precedes the given pixel in the sequence;
updating the identified dynamic probability value to account for the intrinsic properties of the immediately preceding pixel; and
associating the updated probability value with the given pixel. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A computer-program product, tangibly embodied in a computer readable medium, for detecting an object in an image, the computer program product being operable to cause data processing equipment to perform operations comprising:
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scanning a sequence of pixels in the image; and
calculating a dynamic probability value for a pixel in the sequence of pixels based on the following equation;
pD(x+1)=p(x)+w*pD(x),wherein; x represents a position in the sequence;
p(x) is an intrinsic probability value representing the probability that a pixel located at position x corresponds to a feature of the object;
pD(x) is a dynamic probability value representing the probability that a pixel located at position x has neighboring pixels in the sequence that correspond to a feature of the object; and
w is a weighting coefficient that determines how influence pD(x) has on pD(x+1).
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Specification