Patent ID: 7167576
Filing Date: 2007-01-23
Classification: G06K,G06T,H04N

Abstract:
1. A method for tracking objects entering and exiting an environment, the method comprising: obtaining image data for one or more fields of view covering one or more paths by way of which objects can enter or exit the environment wherein the objects are distinguishable from one another on the basis of one or more features in the image data; identifying objects of interest represented in the image data; for each of the objects, determining from the image data whether the object is entering or exiting the environment and generating a signature for the object based, at least in part, on the image data; and after generating one or more entry signatures for objects determined to be entering the environment and at least one exit signature for objects determined to be exiting the environment, matching the at least one exit signature to the one or more entry signatures, such that each matched exit signature corresponds with one matched entry signature; wherein matching the at least one exit signature to the one or more entry signatures comprises, after generating each of the at least one exit signatures for objects determined to be exiting the environment: matching the exit signature to the one or more entry signatures to identify a corresponding entry signature that provides a best match to the exit signature; and, after identifying the corresponding entry signature, checking a plurality of previously matched exit signatures and corresponding previously matched entry signatures to determine whether rematching one or more of the previously matched exit signatures would provide better overall matching between a plurality of available exit signatures and the one or more entry signatures.