Patent ID: 8204314

Claim:
A computer implemented method for generating a spatial signature for a frame of a video object in a computer system programmed to perform the method, the method comprising: obtaining in the computer system, a frame associated with a video object; dividing in the computer system, the frame into a plurality of blocks, the plurality of blocks corresponding to a plurality of locations respectively, each of the plurality of blocks including a plurality of pixels, the plurality of pixels corresponding to a plurality of pixel values respectively; determining in the computer system, a plurality of average pixel values for the plurality of blocks respectively, each of the plurality of blocks corresponding to one of the plurality of average pixel values; processing in the computer system, information associated with the plurality of average pixel values; determining in the computer system, a plurality of comparison values for the plurality of blocks respectively based on at least information associated with the plurality of average pixel values, each of the plurality of blocks corresponding to at least a first comparison value of the plurality of comparison values, each of the plurality of comparison values corresponding to one of the plurality of blocks and being equal to one selected from a group consisting of a first constant and a second constant; processing in the computer system, information associated with the plurality of comparison values; determining in the computer system, a sequence of comparison values based on at least information associated with the plurality of comparison values and the plurality of locations, the spatial signature for the frame including information associated with the sequence of comparison values; wherein the process for determining in the computer system, a plurality of comparison values includes, for each of the plurality of blocks, determining in the computer system, whether a first adjacent block exists for the each of the plurality of blocks based on at least information associated with one or more first predetermined criteria; if the first adjacent block is determined to exist, determining in the computer system, the first comparison value based on at least information associated with a first average pixel value corresponding to the each of the plurality of blocks and a second average pixel value corresponding to the first adjacent block.