Method and device for recognizing a target

Claim 1

Method for recognizing a target (T) among a plurality of n known targets Ti (with i=1,3,4, . . . , n), wherein: in a first preparatory step, for each of said known targets (Ti) first values (CKi) are determined representative of a plurality of p recognition criteria Ck (with k=1,2,3, . . . , p); in a second preparatory step, from direct examination of said n known targets (Ti), using said first values (CKi) and for each recognition criterion (Ck), nxp second values (PCk(Ti)) are established each representative of the probability for a target (Ti) to be recognized when it is examined whereas it is the target (Tj) which is examined (j=1,2,3, . . . , n); and in a step for recognizing said target: by direct examination of said target (T) to be recognized and from said first values (CKi) determined by said first preparatory step, at least p third values (pCk(Ti)) are established representative of the probabilities, for each recognition criterion (Ck), that the target (T) to be recognized is each of said n known target (Ti) insofar as each of said p criteria is concerned; said nxp third values associated with the same known target (Ti) are merged together by taking into account said nxp second values, so as to obatin n fourth values (p(Ti)), each of which is representative of the probability that the target to be recognized is one of the known targets (Ti); and the identity of the target to be recognized (T) is determined from the largest of said fourth values.