Patent ID: 6424736
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: G06K,Y10S

Abstract:
A method incorporating fuzzy logic techniques to determine the degree of difficulty in finding a target of interest within a scene, wherein the difficulty is measured in terms of an output variable defined as search time, the method comprising:making a set of images of the scene containing the target: determining the value of a set of input variables of the scene wherein the input variables include selected variables relating to target size, target juxtaposition relative to a point of view, luminance of the target and luminance of the scene; creating sets of first membership functions, one of the sets being for each of the input variables, the first membership functions associating the input variables with membership values; creating a set of second membership functions, the second set being associated with the output variable; creating a set of fuzzy rules, wherein for every fuzzy rule a particular membership function from each of the sets of membership functions is a selected function, whereby each fuzzy rule is comprised of a group of the selected functions; after the values of the input variables are determined, then for each fuzzy rule determining the membership values for the selected functions from the first sets, and then determining average membership values for the selected membership functions from the first sets; using the average membership values and associated selected membership functions from the second set, determine an output value for each fuzzy rule; and using the output values to calculate a crisp value.