Identifying, matching and tracking multiple objects in a sequence of images
First Claim
1. A method of tracking scored candidate objects in a sequence of image frames acquired by a camera, the scored candidate objects comprising a set of existing scored candidate objects associated with a prior image frame and a set of new scored candidate objects associated with a next image frame, wherein each of the plurality of the scored candidate objects has a respective composite object score that represents a likelihood that the scored candidate object corresponds to an actual pallet structure in an image frame, the method comprising:
- determining, by a computer, a respective location for each new scored candidate object in the next image frame; and
analyzing the new scored candidate objects, wherein said analyzing comprises;
for each particular existing scored candidate object;
identifying, by the computer, a respective first location of this particular existing scored candidate object in the prior image frame,estimating, by the computer, a respective second location in the next image frame, wherein the respective second location is estimated based on movement of the camera between acquisition of the prior image frame and the next image frame,calculating, by the computer, a respective prediction window, wherein the respective prediction window defines a set of pixel locations in the next image frame nearby the respective second location, andfor any new scored candidate object having a respective location within the respective prediction window, tentatively matching that new scored candidate object with this particular existing scored candidate object;
wherein the computer maintains a list of the existing scored candidate objects being tracked; and
said analyzing comprises;
adding any new scored candidate objects, whose respective location is not within the respective prediction window for any of the existing scored candidate objects, to the existing list of scored candidate objects being tracked.
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Abstract
A method of tracking scored candidate objects in a sequence of image frames acquired by a camera is provided. The scored candidate objects may comprise a set of existing scored candidate objects associated with a prior image frame and a set of new scored candidate objects associated with a next image frame.
110 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method of tracking scored candidate objects in a sequence of image frames acquired by a camera, the scored candidate objects comprising a set of existing scored candidate objects associated with a prior image frame and a set of new scored candidate objects associated with a next image frame, wherein each of the plurality of the scored candidate objects has a respective composite object score that represents a likelihood that the scored candidate object corresponds to an actual pallet structure in an image frame, the method comprising:
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determining, by a computer, a respective location for each new scored candidate object in the next image frame; and analyzing the new scored candidate objects, wherein said analyzing comprises; for each particular existing scored candidate object; identifying, by the computer, a respective first location of this particular existing scored candidate object in the prior image frame, estimating, by the computer, a respective second location in the next image frame, wherein the respective second location is estimated based on movement of the camera between acquisition of the prior image frame and the next image frame, calculating, by the computer, a respective prediction window, wherein the respective prediction window defines a set of pixel locations in the next image frame nearby the respective second location, and for any new scored candidate object having a respective location within the respective prediction window, tentatively matching that new scored candidate object with this particular existing scored candidate object; wherein the computer maintains a list of the existing scored candidate objects being tracked; and
said analyzing comprises;adding any new scored candidate objects, whose respective location is not within the respective prediction window for any of the existing scored candidate objects, to the existing list of scored candidate objects being tracked. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system of tracking scored candidate objects in a sequence of image frames acquired by a camera, the scored candidate objects comprising a set of existing scored candidate objects associated with a prior image frame and a set of new scored candidate objects associated with a next image frame, wherein each of the plurality of the scored candidate objects has a respective composite object score that represents a likelihood that the scored candidate object corresponds to an actual pallet structure in an image frame, the system comprising:
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a computer configured to execute instructions in an accessible memory, said accessible memory storing a list of the existing scored candidate objects being tracked; the computer when executing instructions stored in the accessible memory; determines a respective location for each new scored candidate object in the next image frame; performs analysis of the new scored candidate objects, wherein said analysis comprises; for each particular existing scored candidate object; identifying a respective first location of this particular existing scored candidate object in the prior image frame, estimating a respective second location in the next image frame, wherein the respective second location is estimated based on movement of the camera between acquisition of the prior image frame and the next image frame, calculating a respective prediction window, wherein the respective prediction window defines a set of pixel locations in the next image frame nearby the respective second location, and for any new scored candidate object having a respective location within the respective prediction window, tentatively matching that new scored candidate object with this particular existing scored candidate object; and adding any new scored candidate objects, whose respective location is not within the respective prediction window for any of the existing scored candidate objects, to the existing list of scored candidate objects being tracked. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A computer program product of tracking scored candidate objects in a sequence of image frames acquired by a camera, the scored candidate objects comprising a set of existing scored candidate objects associated with a prior image frame and a set of new scored candidate objects associated with a next image frame, wherein each of the plurality of the second candidate objects has a respective composite object score that represents a likelihood that the scored candidate object corresponds to an actual pallet structure in an image frame, the computer program product comprising:
a non-transitory computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code embodied therewith, the computer readable program code comprising; computer readable program code configured to determine a respective location for each new scored candidate object in the next image frame; computer readable program code configured to perform analysis of the new scored candidate objects, wherein said analysis comprises; for each particular existing scored candidate object; identifying a respective first location of this particular existing scored candidate object in the prior image frame, estimating a respective second location in the next image frame, wherein the respective second location is estimated based on movement of the camera between acquisition of the prior image frame and the next image frame, calculating a respective prediction window, wherein the respective prediction window defines a set of pixel locations in the next image frame nearby the respective second location, and for any new scored candidate object having a respective location within the respective prediction window, tentatively matching that new scored candidate object with this particular existing scored candidate object computer readable program code configured to maintain a list of the existing scored candidate objects being tracked; and computer readable program code configured to add any new scored candidate objects, whose respective location is not within the respective prediction window for any of the existing scored candidate objects, to the existing list of scored candidate objects being tracked. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
Specification