Distance-based spatial representation and prediction systems, methods and computer program products for associative memories

• US 20050163347A1
• Filed: 01/14/2005
• Published: 07/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Saffron Technology, Inc. (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Aparicio, Manuel IV, Cabana, David R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,574,416 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/246 using feature-based methods, e.g. the tracking of corners or segments

Abstract

A location of a missing object is predicted based on past sightings of objects including the missing object, and a new sighting of the objects except for the missing object. For a respective given object in the objects, the past sightings are memorized based on respective distances of respective remaining objects from the respective given object. Distance-based memorization may take place using an agent or associative memory for a respective given object. Then, for a respective given object, except for the missing object, a distance of the missing object from the respective given object is predicted, based on the past sightings that have been memorized and the new sighting, to obtain candidate locations for the missing object. The candidate locations are then disambiguated, to predict the location of the missing object.

Claims

1. A method of predicting a location of a missing object based on a plurality of past sightings of a plurality of objects including the missing object and a new sighting of the plurality of objects except for the missing object, comprising:

for a respective given object in the plurality of objects, memorizing the plurality of past sightings based on respective distances of respective remaining objects from the respective given object;

for a respective given object in the plurality of objects except for the missing object, predicting a distance of the missing object from the respective given object based on the past sightings that have been memorized and the new sighting, to obtain a plurality of candidate locations for the missing object; and

processing the candidate locations to predict the location of the missing object.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein memorizing the plurality of past sightings based on respective distances of respective remaining objects from the respective given object comprises memorizing a plurality of pairs of the remaining objects that have co-occurred in the plurality of past sightings from a perspective of the respective given object, and respective distances of the respective plurality of pairs of objects from the respective given object.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein predicting a distance of the missing object from the respective given object based on the past sightings that have been memorized and the new sighting, to obtain a plurality of candidate locations for the missing object comprises predicting a distance of the missing object from the respective given object based on the plurality of pairs of the remaining objects that have co-occurred in the plurality of past sightings from the perspective of the respective given objects that have been memorized, and the respective distances of the respective plurality of pairs of objects from the respective given objects that have been memorized.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein memorizing the plurality of past sightings based on respective distances of respective remaining objects from the respective given object is performed by a respective associative memory for a respective one of the plurality of objects.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein predicting a distance of the missing object from the respective given object based on the past sightings that have been memorized and the new sighting also is performed by the respective associative memory for the respective one of the plurality of objects.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein processing the candidate locations to predict the location of the missing object comprises:

predicting a location of the missing object by the associative memory for the missing object, based on the past sightings that have been memorized by the associative memory for the missing object and the new sighting; and

comparing the predicted location of the missing object with the candidate locations.

7. A computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer-readable program code configured to perform the method of claim 1.

8. A system comprising means for performing the method of claim 1.

13. A system according to claim 11 wherein the means for processing the candidate locations to predict the location of the missing object comprises:

means for controlling the associative memory for the missing object to predict a location of the missing object, based on the past sightings that have been memorized by the associative memory for the missing object and the new sighting; and

means for comparing the predicted location of the missing object with the candidate locations.

9. A system of predicting a location of a missing object based on a plurality of past sightings of a plurality of objects including the missing object and a new sighting of the plurality of objects except for the missing object, comprising:

a plurality of associative memories, a respective one of which is configured to memorize the plurality of past sightings from a perspective of a respective given object in the plurality of objects, based on respective distances of respective remaining objects from the respective given object, a respective associative memory also being configured to predict a distance of the missing object from the respective given object based on the past sightings that have been memorized and the new sighting, and thereby obtain a plurality of candidate locations for the missing object; and

means for processing the candidate locations to predict the location of the missing object.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein a respective associative memory is configured to memorize the plurality of past sightings based on respective distances of respective remaining objects from the respective given object by memorizing a plurality of pairs of the remaining objects that have co-occurred in the plurality of past sightings from the perspective of the respective given object, and respective distances of the respective plurality of pairs of objects from the respective given object.

11. A system according to claim 10 wherein a respective associative memory is configured to predict a distance of the missing object from the respective given object based on the past sightings that have been memorized and the new sighting, by predicting a distance of the missing object from the respective given object based on the plurality of pairs of the remaining objects that have co-occurred in the plurality of past sightings from the perspective of the respective given objects that have been memorized, and the respective distances of the respective plurality of pairs of objects from the respective given objects that have been memorized.

12. A system according to claim 9 wherein the means for processing the candidate locations to predict the location of the missing object comprises:

means for controlling the associative memory for the missing object to predict a location of the missing object, based on the past sightings that have been memorized by the associative memory for the missing object and the new sighting; and

means for comparing the predicted location of the missing object with the candidate locations.

14. A computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer-readable program code configured to provide the system of claim 9.

15. A method of predicting a location of a missing object based on a plurality of past sightings of a plurality of objects including the missing object and a new sighting of the plurality of objects except for the missing object, comprising:

configuring a respective one of a plurality of associative memories to memorize the plurality of past sightings from a perspective of a respective given object in the plurality of objects, based on respective distances of respective remaining objects from the respective given object;

configuring a respective one of the plurality of associative memories to predict a distance of the missing object from the respective given object based on the past sightings that have been memorized and the new sighting, and thereby obtain a plurality of candidate locations for the missing object; and

processing the candidate locations to predict the location of the missing object.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein configuring a respective one of a plurality of associative memories to memorize the plurality of past sightings from a perspective of a respective given object in the plurality of objects, based on respective distances of respective remaining objects from the respective given object comprises configuring a respective one of a plurality of associative memories to memorize the plurality of past sightings based on respective distances of respective remaining objects from the respective given object by memorizing a plurality of pairs of the remaining objects that have co-occurred in the plurality of past sightings from the perspective of the respective given object, and respective distances of the respective plurality of pairs of objects from the respective given object.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein configuring a respective one of the plurality of associative memories to predict a distance of the missing object from the respective given object based on the past sightings that have been memorized and the new sighting, and thereby obtain a plurality of candidate locations for the missing object comprises configuring a respective one of the plurality of associative memories to predict a distance of the missing object from the respective given object based on the plurality of pairs of the remaining objects that have co-occurred in the plurality of past sightings from the perspective of the respective given objects that have been memorized, and the respective distances of the respective plurality of pairs of objects from the respective given objects that have been memorized.

18. A method according to claim 15 wherein processing the candidate locations to predict the location of the missing object comprises:

controlling the associative memory for the missing object to predict a location of the missing object, based on the past sightings that have been memorized by the associative memory for the missing object and the new sighting; and

comparing the predicted location of the missing object with the candidate locations.

19. A method according to claim 17 wherein processing the candidate locations to predict the location of the missing object comprises:

controlling the associative memory for the missing object to predict a location of the missing object, based on the past sightings that have been memorized by the associative memory for the missing object and the new sighting; and

comparing the predicted location of the missing object with the candidate locations.

20. A computer program product comprising a computer usable storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied in the medium, the computer-readable program code configured to perform the method of claim 15.