Patent ID: 6198833
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: G06K,G06T,H04N

Abstract:
A method for tracking a moving entity in a video presentation, comprising steps of:(a) selecting, by cursor technique using a pointer device, a tracking element from a plurality of tracking elements of different shapes and sizes available for selection for association with an entity to be tracked, moving and centering the selected tracking element over the entity to be tracked by drag-and-drop technique, and initiating the tracking process by an incremental input at the pointer device in a first frame of a video display comprising a series of bitmapped frames;(b) generating a matrix of signature pixels relative to the tracking entity, and initiating a tracking process;(c) recording the color values of each of the signature pixels in the first frame, creating thereby a color signature for the entity;(d) obtaining a next frame of the video presentation;(e) assuming a position for the entity in the next frame;(f) testing the color signature at the assumed position and at a plurality of test positions in the immediate vicinity of the assumed position against the color signature recorded for the entity;(g) accepting the position with the closest match to the color signature for the entity as the correct position for the entity; and(h) repeating steps (c) through (f) to determine positions for the entity in succeeding frames of the video presentation.