Object-tracking systems and methods
First Claim
1. A system for tracking a feature of interest on a body, the system comprising:
- an interface adapted to receive a plurality of images from an image capture device, at least a first image comprising a feature of interest;
a signature identification component, wherein the signature identification component identifies signature information of the feature of interest and detects at least one marker in the first image that is distinct from and has a location different from a location of the feature of interest, wherein the identified signature information is unique to the feature of interest and comprises a plurality of characteristics of the feature of interest;
a marker referencing system, wherein the marker referencing system defines a frame of reference corresponding to the at least one marker, determines whether the at least one marker is in a second image taken at a different point in time relative to the first image, adjusts the frame of reference corresponding to a change in position of the at least one marker from the first image to the second image, and searches in a direction and within a predetermined distance from a motion vector corresponding to the adjusted frame of reference to locate the feature of interest in the second image using the identified signature information of the feature of interest.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for tracking, identifying, and labeling objects or features of interest is provided. In some embodiments, tracking is accomplished using unique signature of the feature of interest and image stabilization techniques. According to some aspects a frame of reference using predetermined markers is defined and updated based on a change in location of the markers and/or specific signature information. Individual objects or features within the frame may also be tracked and identified. Objects may be tracked by comparing two still images, determining a change in position of an object between the still images, calculating a movement vector of the object, and using the movement vector to update the location of an image device.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A system for tracking a feature of interest on a body, the system comprising:
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an interface adapted to receive a plurality of images from an image capture device, at least a first image comprising a feature of interest; a signature identification component, wherein the signature identification component identifies signature information of the feature of interest and detects at least one marker in the first image that is distinct from and has a location different from a location of the feature of interest, wherein the identified signature information is unique to the feature of interest and comprises a plurality of characteristics of the feature of interest; a marker referencing system, wherein the marker referencing system defines a frame of reference corresponding to the at least one marker, determines whether the at least one marker is in a second image taken at a different point in time relative to the first image, adjusts the frame of reference corresponding to a change in position of the at least one marker from the first image to the second image, and searches in a direction and within a predetermined distance from a motion vector corresponding to the adjusted frame of reference to locate the feature of interest in the second image using the identified signature information of the feature of interest. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for tracking a feature of interest on a body surface, the system comprising:
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an imaging device, the imaging device configured for capturing still images; and an image processor comprising one or more modules for executing operations on the captured images, the one or more modules comprising instructions for; identifying at least one marker in a first still image, the first still image containing a feature of interest other than the at least one marker; determining a signature of the feature of interest in the first image, the signature is unique to the feature of interest and comprises a plurality of characteristics of the feature of interest; defining a frame of reference corresponding to the at least one marker; locating the at least one marker in a second still image taken at a different point in time than the first image; and updating a translational component of the frame of reference based on a motion vector corresponding to a change in position of the at least one marker in the second still image with respect to the first still image; and searching for the feature of interest in the second still image in a search region using the determined signature, the search region is defined in a direction and within a predetermined distance from the motion vector. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method for tracking a feature of interest on a body, the method comprising:
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identifying at least one marker in a first still image taken by an imaging device, the first still image containing a feature of interest other than the at least one marker; determining a signature of the feature of interest in the first still image; defining a frame of reference corresponding to the at least one marker; locating the at least one marker in a second still image taken by the imaging device at a different point in time relative to the first image; and updating a translational component of the frame of reference based on a motion vector corresponding to a change in a position of the at least one marker in the second still image, with respect to the first still image; and searching for the feature of interest in the second still image in a search region using the determined signature, the search region is defined in a direction and within a predetermined distance from the motion vector. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification