Patent Document ID: 5581625
Application ID: 08189561
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for counting a plurality of objects currently present in a substantially linear queue, comprising: obtaining a stereo image of a scene including said substantially linear queue from a vantage point area in close proximity to one end of said substantially linear queue, wherein said stereo image comprises a first image and a second image, each of said plurality of objects in said first image being shifted relative to said second image; obtaining depth information from said stereo image for portions of said scene relative to said vantage point, comprising correlating patches in said first image with patches in said second image; and interpreting said depth information to determine areas of said stereo image substantially corresponding to a given depth range, each of said plurality of objects corresponding to a particular determined area, wherein said step of interpreting comprises: creating a depth map for said correlated patches, interpreting said depth map to identify one or more regions corresponding to said given depth range, each of said plurality of objects corresponding to one of said one or more regions, and filtering out said depth information for objects in said scene other than said plurality of objects.