Patent ID: 8311280
Filing Date: 2012-11-13
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a setting unit configured to set a tracking area in image data; a storage unit configured to store a first signal and a second signal extracted from the tracking area; and a detection unit configured to extract an area having a signal in which a difference between the signal and the first signal is smallest from the image data and to update the tracked area with the extracted area; wherein if the detection unit cannot extract an area having a signal in which a difference between the signal and the first signal is smaller than a threshold value from the image data, the detection unit determines whether an area, having a signal in which a difference between the signal and the second signal is smaller than the threshold value, can be extracted from the image data, and if the area cannot be extracted, the detection unit resets the tracking area, and if the area can be extracted, the detection unit continues updating of the tracking area, wherein when the tracking area is updated, the storage unit updates the first signal, and wherein when a contrast value calculated from the image data in an area exceed a predetermined value, a position and a range of the area at that point are set as the tracking area.