Patent ID: 7742650
Filing Date: 2010-06-22
Classification: G06K,G06T

Abstract:
1. An image processing method for detecting objects within an input image, the image being composed of picture elements, the method comprising: a) segmenting picture elements representing a foreground object within the input image from those picture elements forming the image background using a first segmentation technique, wherein the picture elements segmented as foreground include elements representing a shadow or highlight of the object; b) storing a segmentation mask, containing the location of the segmented picture elements representing a foreground object, in a data store; c) segmenting picture elements which have the characteristics of a shadow or highlight of an object from those picture elements representing the foreground object using at least one other segmentation technique adapted to detect shadows or highlights; d) segmenting as foreground surrounding picture elements to those picture elements which are already segmented as foreground by performing a morphological dilation operation; e) comparing the surrounding picture element segmented as foreground in step d) against the stored segmentation mask; f) repeating steps d) and e) if comparison determines that the segmented surrounding picture elements do not touch the boundary of the foreground object in the stored segmentation mask; and g) if the comparison determines that the segmented surrounding picture elements touch the boundary of the foreground object in the stored segmentation mask, then detecting as objects, groups of adjacent picture elements which have been segmented as foreground.