Patent ID: 6195121
Filing Date: 2001-02-27
Classification: G06K,G06T,G07C,H04N

Abstract:
A system for detecting persons standing in a queue, comprising:(a) a video camera positioned to view a selected area of interest, the video camera providing a video signal output;(b) a frame grabber for converting the video signal output into a digital video image;(c) a processing system for analyzing the digital video image, the processing system performing the following steps:(1) dividing the digital video image into a plurality of slots, each slot approximately the size of a person within the digital video image;(2) generating an image difference for each slot;(3) determining from the image difference whether a slot is occupied by a person; and(4) determining whether a person overlaps adjacent slots, if it is determined that neither adjacent slot is occupied by a person, by defining a slot overlapping the adjacent slots and detecting whether the overlapping slot is occupied by a person.