Abstract:
A system for counting objects, such as people, is provided having a camera ( 22 ) for capturing video images along an image plane ( 25 ) in which two-dimensional shapes or design ( 28 ) are spaced along the image plane ( 25 ), and a computer system ( 14, 22 ) for receiving the images and detecting objects associated with change occurring in the images, and counting one of the detected objects when of the detected objects approximates a shape ( 31 ) associated with the object being counted (e.g., ellipse shape, to count a person) that fully or substantially blocks a portion said two-dimensional shapes or design ( 28 ) in the image associated with the detected object, and the detected object meeting other criteria for the object, such as size or compactness of detected change within the object. The system is especially useful for counting people near external windowed doors ( 19 ) of a building entranceway doors by discriminating between spurious light crossing the image plane and people.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/748,539, filed Dec. 8, 2005, which is herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a system and method for counting people, and relates particularly to a system and method for counting people or other moving object in images captured by a video camera adjacent an external windowed door. The invention is especially useful for reducing counting error by determining presence of an person along the image place of a video camera which is unaffected by movement of spurious light. Such spurious light often occurs when ambient light is deflected from door surfaces as the door opens or closes. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Devices using various types of sensors for counting people passing an area have been developed, such as described for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,278,878, 5,187,688, 6,327,547, 4,303,851, 5,656,801, 4,799,243, and 6,712,269. However, such have not been incorporated using video surveillance type cameras such as often used in facility protection systems for building(s) near entrances/exits of such building(s) having doors. In situation of external windowed doors, with direct light on the surface under the camera, opening of the doors and entering people might cause dynamic blobs of lights that can confuse the counting. Ambient light is often the cause for such blobs of light which may deflect from swinging door surfaces, but can also be cause in some situations by artificial light sources, such as automobile lights, lamps, or high luminescent luminaries often present in parking lots. Thus, a counting system using a camera that can efficiently count people without being negatively effected by such dynamic light is desirable. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    It is a feature of the present invention to provide a system and method for counting people in video images which can discriminate between objects representing spurious light crossing an image plane and objects, such as people, crossing the image plane. 
         [0005]    Briefly described, the present invention embodies a system having a camera for capturing video images along an image plane in which two-dimensional shapes or design are spaced along the image plane, and a computer system for receiving the images and detecting objects associated with change occurring in the images, and counting one of the detected objects at least in accordance with one of the detected objects which approximates a shape associated with the object being counted (e.g., ellipse to count a person) that fully or substantially blocks a portion of the two-dimensional shapes or design in the image associated with the detected object, thereby discriminating between real objects and spurious light along the image plane. 
         [0006]    In the preferred embodiment, computer system counts a detected object when such detected object not only approximates a shape associated with the object being counted that fully or substantially blocks a portion of the two-dimensional shapes or design in the image associated with the detected object, but that the detected object has one or more characteristic associated with the desired object to be counted. Such characteristics may represent shape properties, such as a sufficient size associated with the object to be counted, or whether the change associated with the detected object is sufficiently compact to represent an object to be counted, or other shape based criteria. The computer system may further be capable of detecting the direction of each detected object, and detected object may be counted is in accordance with its detected direction. 
         [0007]    The present invention also embodies a method for comprising the steps of: capturing images along an image plane in which objects to be counted cross over the image plane; providing two-dimensional shapes or design spaced along an image plane; detecting one or more objects in one of the captured images associated with change along the image plane in accordance with one of a previously one of the captured images or a background image; determining whether each of the one or more detected objects represents a real object when the detected object approximates a shape associated with the object to be counted that at least substantially blocks a portion of the two-dimensional shapes or design in the captured image in which the object was detected, and counting the real object in accordance with one or more characteristics of the detected object associated with the real object, such characteristics may represent shape properties as size or the compactness of change detected within the detected real object. 
         [0008]    The method may further provide for determining the direction of movement of each of the one or more detected objects crossing the image plane, and counting the real object is in accordance with the determined direction of movement of the detected object associated with the real object. 
         [0009]    The present invention further embodies a user interface for counting objects, such as people, in images captured by a video camera having at least one window capable of displaying video image data captured by the camera, in which the user in at least one of the displayed images defines a region along which objects crossing are to be counted, and a direction of crossing by objects through the region. The user interface may further output the number of counted objects crossing the region in that direction. 
         [0010]    The term objects with respect to counting referring to moving objects along a region of the image plane in captured images. Although the description below describes such objects as people, they may represent other objects by using the desired shape of the object in approximating detected objects to be counted and other criteria associated with one or more characteristics of the object (e.g., shape properties of size or compactness, or other shape properties, such as orientation or elongation). Thus, other geometric shapes than ellipses may be used to approximate detected objects. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The foregoing features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from a reading of the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1A  is a block diagram of a network connecting computer systems to video cameras via their associated digital recorders; 
           [0013]      FIG. 1B  is a block diagram of one of the video cameras of the network of  FIG. 1A  which is mounted for imaging the floor and provides images, via its associated digital video recorder to one of the computer systems of  FIG. 1A  for enabling counting in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an illustration of an example of two-dimensional objects in the form of stickers present on the floor in  FIG. 1B ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an example of how to distribute two-dimensional objects on the floor, such that a hypothetic person, defined by an ellipse, can cover completely or partially various two-dimensional objects in the image plane of the camera of  FIG. 1B ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an example of a user interface for inputting user parameters for counting in accordance the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4A  is an illustration of the effective region established based upon the region inputted by the user using the user interface of  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart showing the process carried out in software in the computer system for enabling counting in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6A  is a flow chart showing one process for extraction of ellipses in the block of  FIG. 5A  entitled “Extract Ellipse for Each Candidate for an Object Detect Motion/Object”; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6B  is a flow chart showing another process for extraction of ellipses in the block of  FIG. 5A  entitled “Extract Ellipse for Each Candidate for an Object Detect Motion/Object”; 
           [0021]      FIG. 6C  is a flow chart for process of determining the trajectory of ellipse representing detected object; 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  is an example of a binary image showing the location of shapes of the two-dimensional objects or design feature in the case of the stickers of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0023]      FIGS. 8A and 8B  are examples of a binary image showing two objects detected, and then approximated in the shape of an ellipse, respectively; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 8C  is an example of a binary image showing blocked and unblocked portions of the dimensional objects or design features of  FIG. 2  in the example of the two objects of  FIGS. 8A and 8B . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 1A , a system  10  is shown is shown having a computer system or server  12  for receiving video image data from one or more digital video recorders  16   a  and  16   b  via a network (LAN)  11 . The digital video recorders  16   a  and  16   b  are each coupled to one or more video cameras  18   a  and  18   b , respectively, for receiving and storing images from such cameras, and transmitting digital video data representative of captured images from their respective cameras to the computer server  12  (or to one or more computer workstations  20 ) for processing of video data and/or outputting such video data to a display  14  coupled to the computer server (or a display  21  coupled to workstations  20 ). One or more computer workstations  20  may be provided for performing system administration and/or alarm monitoring. The number of computer workstations  20  may be different than those shown in  FIG. 1 . The workstations  20 , server  12 , digital video recorders  16   a  and  16   b , communicate via network  11 , such by Ethernet hardware and software, for enabling LAN communication. 
         [0026]    The digital video recorders may be of one of two types, a digital video recorder  16   a  for analog-based cameras, or an IP network digital video recorder  16   b  for digital-based cameras. Each digital video recorder  16   a  connects to one or more analog video cameras  18   a  for receiving input analog video signals from such cameras, and converting the received analog video signals into a digital format for recording on the digital storage medium of digital video recorders  16   a  for storage and playback. Each IP network digital video recorder  16   b  connects to IP based video camera  18   b  through network  11 , such that the cameras produces a digital data stream which is captured and recorded within the digital storage medium of the digital video recorder  16   b  for storage and playback. The digital storage medium of each digital video recorders  16   a  and  16   b  can be either local storage memory internal to the digital video recorder (such as a hard disk drive) and/or memory connected to the digital video recorder (such as an external hard disk drive, Read/Write DVD, or other optical disk). Optionally, the memory storage medium of the digital video recorder can be SAN or NAS storage that is part of the system infrastructure. 
         [0027]    Typically, each digital video recorder  16   a  is in proximity to its associated cameras  18   a , such that cables from the cameras connect to inputs of the digital video recorder, however each digital video recorders  16   b  does not require to be in such proximity as the digital based cameras  18   b  connect over network  11  which lies installed in the building(s) of the site in which the video surveillance system in installed. For purposes of illustration, a single digital video recorders of each type  16   a  and  16   b  is shown with one or two cameras shown coupled to the respective digital video recorder, however one or more digital video recorders of the same or different type may be present. For example, digital video recorders  16   a  may represent a Lenel Digital Recorder available from Lenel Systems International, Inc., or a M-Series Digital Video Recorder sold by Loronix of Durango, Colo., digital video recorder  16   b  may represent a LNL Network Recorder available from Lenel Systems International, Inc., and utilize typical techniques for video data compression and storage. However, other digital video recorders capable of operating over network  11  may be used. Also, camera  18   b  may send image data to one of the computer  12  or  20  for processing and/or display without use of a digital video recorder  16   b , if desired. 
         [0028]    Video cameras  18   a  and  18   b  are installed in or around areas of buildings, or outside buildings, or remote location to view areas. Groups of one or more of the video cameras  18   a  and  18   b  are each coupled for data communication with their respective digital video recorder. 
         [0029]    The system  10  may be part of a facilities security system for enabling access control in which the network  11  is coupled to access control equipment, such as access controllers, alarm panels, and readers, and badging workstation(s) provided for issuing and managing badges. For example, such access control system is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,738,772 and 6,233,588. 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 1B , a video camera  22  represents one of the video cameras  18   a  or  18   b  of  FIG. 1A . Camera  22  is mounted overhead to the ceiling  24  near a door  19  where counting of people is desired who pass through the door (gate or passage)  19 , which may having window(s) or other surface(s), such as metallic surfaces, capable of reflecting light. The camera  22  provides images, via its associated DVR  16   a  or  16   b  (or directly without a DVR), to one of the computers  14  and  22  which has software (or program) for counting in accordance with such images received, as described later below. Such computer enabling counting may be considered a computer server. 
         [0031]    Camera  22  captures video images along an image plane  25  parallel to a floor  26 . Two-dimensional objects or design are provided upon the floor, such objects or design may be provided by stickers, or a mat with pre-defined design pattern located along the image plane  25 . In the example shown in  FIG. 2 , two-dimensional objects are provided by stickers  28  (or tape segments) arranges on the floor  26 , adjacent an external windowed door  19 , and in the view of camera  22 . In this example, the location of the image plane near the door, dynamic (moving) light and shadow spots can occur, such as in area  30 . The stickers  28  may be adhesive back media, such as paper or plastic, evenly or unevenly spaced along the image plane  25 . When a mat is used, it lies along the image plane  25  and provides a design of a predefined pattern of two-dimensional objects of the same or different geometric shapes, a design having spaced two-dimensional features, or a company&#39;s logo, or a combination thereof. The particular two-dimensional objects or design used is not critical so long as they provide two-dimensional shapes or design features spaced along the image plane, such as described below. Optionally, the floor itself, such as a rug or tile, may be when installed embedded with spaced two-dimensional objects or design. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is an example of how to distribute two-dimensional objects on the floor, such that a hypothetical person, defined by an ellipse  31 , can cover completely or partially various two-dimensional objects  28   a  in the image plane of the camera  22 . The two-dimensional objects or design features are illustrated as pre-defined shapes located on the floor below the camera, and are spread all over the effective region (described below) such that every ellipse  31  that can contain a passing person in the region must include at least 10 pixels of shape boundary segments in each one of ellipse&#39;s four quarters  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c  and  32   d  (dotted lines represent quarter lines). 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart of the process carried out by the software (program or application) in one of computers  14  and  20  of  FIG. 1A  for counting people in accordance with images received from camera  22 . This computer has a typical graphical user interface, such as a display, mouse and keyboard, or the like. An example of the user interface  33  is shown in  FIG. 4 . The user interface  33  has a window  34  for displaying images provided in real-time by camera  22 , and enables the user to input two parameters. These parameters (i) a narrow rectangular region through which a person will cross in the image, and (ii) the entrance direction of persons to be counted. 
         [0034]    To enable entry of a narrow rectangular region, the user move the curser (by movement of the mouse) over an icon  36 , clicks on the icon (using one of the mouse buttons), and then moves the curser over the image in window  34  to place two points to define two opposing corners (or vertices) along different sides of a region. The region  38  selected is shown such as in a color overlay in the images in window  34 . Preferably, the region extends along the length of the possible area people will cross before (or after) passing through the door. To remove the region selected, the user may click on icon  37 , and then clicks on icon  36  to reenter the region. 
         [0035]    The entrance direction is defined by selecting one of two options in field  40  with respect to the region, and such direction is perpendicular to the width of the rectangular region. The field  40  is changeable by the user clicking on the arrow  40   a  to toggle the entry or select an entry from a drop down menu. In the example, Direction A is shown selected and then indicated in window  34  by an arrow  42  (also shown as an overlap in the image in window  34 ). The user to select the opposite direction enters or selects Direction B in field  40 . The width of the rectangular region is scaled by a pre-defined factor by the computer its memory, as illustrated in  FIG. 4A . The scaled rectangle is referred to herein as the effective region  43 . 
         [0036]    Once the parameters are set for the entry direction and effective region, the computer operates first in a learning mode to identify the location of pixels of boundaries of the two-dimensional objects or design in the effective region  43  of one or more images from camera  22 . This is achieved by the computer taking a frame of a gray-scale image, thresholding the image to provide a binary image and extracting contours of connected components. Extraction contours of connected components is described for example in the Section “Contour Following” at page 358 of Anil K. Jain, “Fundamentals of Digital Image Processing, Prentice Hall Information and System Sciences Series, 1998, but other methods may be used, such as extracting line segments associated with connected objects. This occurs while there are no lights and shadows spots on the floor below the camera in the region of interest, and no people are crossing the region. The computer learns automatically all the shapes in a short period of time. Once the location of the shapes of two-dimensional objects or features of the two-dimensional design are known, their pixels are stored in a shape image in memory of the computer. An example of the shape image is shown in  FIG. 7  for stickers  28  of  FIG. 2  in the effective region  43  ( FIG. 4 ). 
         [0037]    Referring now of  FIG. 5 , each new video frames from the camera  22  (step  44 ) is processed to extract ellipse(s) for each candidate for an object (step  46 ) using the input (step  45 ). The process of step  46  is shown in  FIG. 6A  where the new video frame of step  44  represents the current video frame (step  54 ). Memory, such as RAM, in the computer stores at least the current video frame and the last received video frame of images from camera  22 . First, for each two consecutive video frames image subtraction is performed to obtain gray-level image of differences I D  (step  55 ). Optionally, one or more filter or filters are applied to the differences image I D  to reduce noise, such as a morphological filter or digital convolution filter(s) (step  56 ). For example, an “opening” morphological filter may be used having a square opening, such as described for example in the book by Gonzalez, Rafael C. and Woods, Richard E., Digital Image Processing, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., Massachusetts, Chapter 8.4.2, Page 518, 1993. After such image processing, the gray-level image I D  is transformed into a binary (black or white only) image using auto-thresholding (e.g., setting a threshold value based on the distribution of gray-values and/or gradient magnitudes in differences image I D , and applying it to every pixel in the differences image) (step  57 ). In other words, the threshold value applied to binarize image I D  is automatically selected to identify areas of change in the image, while removing low differences values less likely to be associated with a moving object. Less preferably, a predefined fixed threshold value may be applied to each image I D . White pixels in the binary image stand for pixels with gray-level value higher than the threshold, and they stand for “pixels with change”. 
         [0038]    Connected components are then extracted from the binary image (step  58 ). Connected components refer to adjacent white pixels in the image appears as a shape, which if a person is expected to approximate an ellipse. The extraction of connected components may be performed as described for example in the earlier cited book by Gonzalez et al., Digital Image Processing, chapter 2.4, page 40, 1993. Once extracted, each connected component in the binary image is regarded as a possible person, and is approximated into an ellipse shape (step  59 ). An example of two connected components before and after approximation of their pixels to ellipses in shown in  FIG. 8A and 8B , respectively, for connected components  60   a  and  60   b , and their approximated ellipses  61  and  61   b,  respectively. 
         [0039]    Using the set of pixels defining each detected object (i.e., a connected component), its elliptical center and two lengths and angular orientation of two orthogonal axes of the ellipse through that center are determined to identify the outer pixels defining the approximated ellipse shape. For example, this may be performed by determining the “moments of order 2” for all of the pixels within a connected component (i.e., average of the x values of pixels, the average of the y value or pixels, the average the multiplication of x and y values of each pixel, and the average of x 2  value of each pixel, the average of y 2  value of each pixel). For the moments of order 2 determined, a covariance matrix is built to locate the center of the ellipse, the length of the two main axes, and orientation which is an angle. The approximation of an ellipse should not be limited to any particular method, as any method for approximating an ellipse from a set of pixels may be used. 
         [0040]    Each candidate ellipse is stored in a Reported List maintained in memory of the computer, in which for each ellipse is an entry (or record) including data fields for at least (i) the image frame in which the object was detected (e.g., by time stamp and/or file name), (ii) ellipse data representing the ellipse associated with the detected object (e.g., defining by pixel locations, or the center, axes, and angular orientation of the ellipse in the frame), and (iii) direction data as to the object&#39;s direction (exit/entry) identified as described below in connection with  FIG. 6C . Other data structures may also be used to store the same data as the Reported List. 
         [0041]    Referring back to  FIG. 5 , after step  46  a check is made for the presence of the pre-defined pattern of objects of design feature shapes inside the boundaries of each of the ellipses (step  47 ). This is performed by comparing the location of the boundaries of an ellipse in the earlier determined shape image with those actually imaged by the camera when the object associated with the approximated ellipse was detected. If all, or a substantial number or percentage, of the pixels of the shapes are present in the ellipse (e.g., 75% or more), no real object is detected (e.g., a blob of light) (step  52 ). Otherwise, the object associated with the ellipse is considered to have fully or substantially occluded (i.e., blocked) such shapes, and the ellipse is a real object (step  49 ). The particular percentage used may be based on calibration using sample images of people crossing the floor below camera  22 . 
         [0042]    In other words, the image of the frame from step  44  is analyzed by thresholding the gradient magnitude of the pixels, such as by determining the gradient orientation, to provide a binary image of edge pixels (and/or with the angle of the tangents), and then by comparing the binary image with the shape image with regards whether such pixels in the shape image are present or not (e.g., by the percentage of pixels matching in such images) within the ellipse boundaries associated with a detected object. 
         [0043]    If a real object is detected at step  49 , a check is made to determine if the real object is a person (step  50 ). This may be based on one or both characteristics of the size and compactness of the ellipse, or other shape properties. For example, an ellipse is a person if the size of the ellipse is such that its boundaries touch both the top and bottom sides of the effective region  43  (or extend beyond one or both of these sides), and the compactness of the ellipse is such that the white pixels of the ellipse (within its boundaries in the binary image used by steps  58 - 59 ) cover at least 75% of the area of the ellipse and at least 50% of each ellipse quarter. Other criteria may be used, and the percentage can be calibrated when test subjects pass through the region. When the effective region  43  was established, as shown for example in  FIG. 4A , it represents an extension of the top and bottom boundaries of the user selected region to the effective region&#39;s top and bottom boundaries  43   a  and  43   b , respectively, which enable such ellipse size criteria to be effective at step  50 . In other words, the ellipse is big enough to contain a person (passing under camera  22 ). 
         [0044]    In the example of  FIGS. 8A and 8B , such binary image is shown for example in  FIG. 8C , where approximated ellipse shape  61   a  of detected object  60   a  does not block view in area  62   a , and approximated ellipse shape  61   b  of detected object  60   b  substantially blocks view in area  62   b  associated with the location of the object, and hence ellipse shape  61   a  is not a real object while shape  61   b  is a real object. For purposes of illustration, shapes  61  and  61   b  are shown outlined in  FIG. 8C . Further the ellipse shape  61   b  is a person since its boundaries touch both the top and bottom boundaries  43   a  and  43   b , respectively, of the effective region  43 , and is sufficiently compact in that other 75% are white pixels, and at least 50% of each quarter  62   c,d,e,f  of the ellipse are white pixels. 
         [0045]    If the ellipse is determined to be a person at step  50 , the trajectory of the ellipse for the object is looked up in a Reported List to determine for that video frame of step  44  the direction of crossing the region. The direction of real object having been added to the Reported List as described below in  FIG. 6C . Two counters are provided in memory of the computer one for each direction. In window  35  of the user interface ( FIG. 4 ), each person that passes in the direction of arrow  42  (i.e., the crossing direction) is regarded as entered and each person that passes in the opposite directed is regarded as exited. The counter in accordance with the direction is indexed by one. The current count values of people entered and people exited is displayed to the user in window  34 . The user interface may further have a button which when clicked upon by the user enables the counter values to be reset, if desired. 
         [0046]    In the alternative to steps  55 - 57  of  FIG. 6A , steps  64 - 67  of  FIG. 6B  may be used. Unlike  FIG. 6A  which relies on detection of change (i.e. motion) between two consecutive frames from camera  22 ,  FIG. 6B  uses detection of change between the current frame to a background image. The new video frame of step  44  is the new video frame (step  63 ), and a background image is read from memory of the computer or generated if one is not previously stored (step  64 ). Such background image is generated of the effective region  43  preferably when no motion of objects or spurious light is present using a number of consecutives frame (e.g., 10-20). For example, the gray-scale values at each pixel position over multiple consecutive frames are averaged or otherwise normalized to provide a background image, which is then stored in memory of the computer. If the background image is not already stored, the user is directed via the user interface to avoid motion along the region in view of the camera until such background image is generated. When the background image is ready (step  65 ), the current frame from step  62  is subtracted from the background image to provide a differences image (step  66 ). One or more filter or filters are then applied to the differences image to reduce noise in the image, such as a morphological filter or digital convolution filter(s), such as described earlier at step  56 , and the differences image is then auto-thresholded, such as described earlier at step  57 , to provide a binary image (step  67 ). The binary image from step  67  is then operated upon in the same manner as steps  58  and  59 . 
         [0047]    In order to determine direction of movement of a person, such that when the object represents a detected person crossing the effective region, it is counted in the proper direction of entry or exit, the process shown in the flowchart of  FIG. 6C  is performed. Each new video frame (step  68 ) from the camera is subtracted from the previous frame from the camera, and the resulting differences image is autothresholded (such as described earlier in connection with step  57 ) to produce a binary image, referred to herein as a binary mask (step  70 ). If needed to reduce noise, a morphological filter is applied to the binary mask. The white (1) pixels in the binary mask indicate change. Using the binary mask, image flow is detected by extracting motion vectors on the white pixel areas of the mask (step  72 ), such as based on Kanade-Lucas Tracker method. For more information see article by Jean-Yves Bouguet, “Pyramidal Implemental of the Lucas Kanade Feature Tracker, Description of the algorithm”, Intel Corp, Microprocessor Research Labs. From the motion vectors, trajectories are generated. The position of ellipses in the current image frame for each candidate are provided from the results of step  46  ( FIG. 6A  or  6 B), and may be looked up by the computer in the Reported List for the current image frame (step  75 ). For each candidate ellipse from step  75 , motion trajectories are attached which end inside it (step  76 ). For each ellipse, its direction is then set, either entry or exit, according to the Motion Trajectory, i.e., a direction toward the top boundary or bottom boundary of the effective region  43  (step  77 ). In the example of  FIG. 4A , if the trajectory of the object represented by the ellipse was toward side  43   a  (i.e., in the direction of arrow  42 ) the object has entered, and if toward side  43   b  (the opposite direction to arrow  42 ), the object has exited. For each ellipse with a determined direction, if entry in the Reported List associated with that ellipse has direction data with no direction or an incorrect direction (step  78 ), the entry is updated with the direction for ellipse determined by step  77  (step  80 ). If an entry in the Reported List associated with an ellipse has direction data with the same direction as determined from step  77 , then the Reported List is not updated. Step  82  reports on the person with direction, as denoted by step  52  of  FIG. 5 . 
         [0048]    When a mat of the two-dimensional objects or design is used, movement of the mat may negatively effect performance, since the pattern of objects or design features used (as recorded in the shape image) to detect persons will have shifted. To account for this, the computer detects automatically a global movement of the mat by global correlation of the whole set of extracted features (the curve segments). This can be done periodically, such as every x number frames (e.g., x=10). For example, steps  64 ,  65  and  58  of  FIG. 6B  may be performed when no persons are present, and compared with the shape image mapping pixels of the objects or design features stored in memory, and the results compared. When a mismatch is detected, there are 3 options: an alarm is generated, the translation and rotation of the mat is automatically detected and the system re-adjusts itself to the new position of the mat, the system optionally restarts learning mode in order to re-learn the new location of two-dimensional objects or design of the mat and updates the shape image accordingly. 
         [0049]    Optionally, the digital video recorder  16  or  16   a  could represent a stand-alone computer coupled to one or more video cameras with the ability to record and process real-time images capability. The user interface  33  and processes of  FIGS. 5 , and  6 A or  6 B are carried out by the stand-alone computer in response to image data received to counting objects representing people. Although preferred, other geometric shapes may be used in approximating connected object than ellipses described above. Further, although the above is described for detecting objects representing people, it may be used to detect passing other objects of different shapes by approximating connected components to other shapes. The desired shape of such objects to be discriminated among other objects may be identified during calibration of the system on test objects to be counted and not counted. Also, the same video images from a video camera may be used in multiple instances of the software described herein to detect different objects. Further, the user interface may also enable the user to set upper limit on the number of people, and when such limit is reached issues an alarm to notify personnel. 
         [0050]    Although the system and method is described for counting in an area near an external windowed door, it may also be used for counting in other areas that need not be adjacent to such a door. As such, the use of two-dimensional shapes or design  28  in detecting objects to be counted in video images can provide efficient counting in situations with and without the possibility of dynamic reflected light in video images from moving or reflective door surfaces. 
         [0051]    From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that there has been provided an improved system, method, and user interface for counting objects, such as people, in video images. Variations and modifications in the herein described system, method, and user interface in accordance with the invention will undoubtedly suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the foregoing description should be taken as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.