Patent ID: 8712112

Claim:
A computer-implemented method comprising: for each dot template of one or more dot templates corresponding to an object to be detected within an image, where each dot template is defined as a collection of points, at each position of one or more positions within the image, determining a value of the image at each point of the dot template at the position of the image, such that the dot template is effectively overlaid at the position; determining a score of the dot template at the position based on the values of the image determined at the points of the dot template, the score determined by dividing a first calculated value by a second calculated value, the first calculated value determined by subtracting a first sum of first maximum functions from a second sum, the second sum including at least a first minimum function, the second calculated value determined by subtracting a second minimum function from a second maximum function, the first maximum functions each being a maximum of a plurality of the points corresponding to potential darker regions of the image, the first minimum function being a minimum of a plurality of the points corresponding to potential lighter regions of the image, the second maximum function being a maximum of a different plurality of the points corresponding to the potential lighter regions of the image, the second minimum function being a minimum of a different plurality of the points corresponding to the potential darker regions of the image; and, where the score of the dot template is greater than a predetermined threshold, concluding that the object is at least potentially located within the image at the position at which the dot template has been effectively overlaid.