US6061055A — Method of tracking objects with an imaging device

Claim 1

Independent Claim 142 words

A method of tracking a target object using a computer system, the computer system including a computer, a display device, and an imaging device having a field of view, the computer being coupled to the display device and the imaging device, the method comprising the steps of: capturing a first image from within said field of view of the imaging device using the imaging device, said first image corresponding to said target object; generating a second image from the first image, the second image corresponding to said target object; displaying the second image on the display device; and responsive to receiving a selection signal, the computer system controlling the imaging device to track and capture additional images of said target object from within said field of view of the imaging device, the selection signal corresponding to a selection of the second image.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 142 words

A method of tracking a target object using a computer system, the computer system including a computer, a display device, and an imaging device having a field of view, the computer being coupled to the display device and the imaging device, the method comprising the steps of: capturing a first image from within said field of view of the imaging device using the imaging device, said first image corresponding to said target object; generating a second image from the first image, the second image corresponding to said target object; displaying the second image on the display device; and responsive to receiving a selection signal, the computer system controlling the imaging device to track and capture additional images of said target object from within said field of view of the imaging device, the selection signal corresponding to a selection of the second image.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said capturing said first image includes digitizing a first frame received from said imaging device and displaying said first image on said display device.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 57 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said generating said second image from said first image includes: receiving a selection of a first area, said first area defining a portion of said first image including an image of the target object; and creating a reduced image of said first image, where said second image includes said reduced image.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said generating said second image from said first image includes making a copy of said first image, said copy being said second image.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said generating said second image from said first image includes making a thumbnail image of said first image, said thumbnail image being said second image.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 52 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said generating said second image from said first image is performed in response to the following steps: searching said first image for an object corresponding to a predetermined type of object; and identifying said object in said first image, said target object corresponding to said object.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of claim 6 wherein said type of object corresponds to a human being.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 110 words

The method of claim 1 further including the steps of said imaging device capturing a plurality of images corresponding to said field of view, and generating a model from said first image, said model corresponding to said target object, and wherein said computer system controlling the imaging device to track said target object includes the following steps: receiving a subset of said plurality of images; causing said computer system to use said model to search said plurality of images for images of said target object; and responsive to said searching, generating imaging device control commands to cause the imaging device to keep said target object in said field of view.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 1 wherein said second image corresponds to a first area on said display device and wherein said receiving said selection signal includes receiving a mouse click signal corresponding to a mouse click within said first area.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 130 words

A method of tracking a primary target object using a computer system, a video camera, and a display device, said computer system coupled to said video camera and said display device, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of frames; identifying a plurality of target objects in said plurality of frames; generating a set of images from said plurality of frames, each image of said set of images corresponding to a different target object of said plurality of target objects; displaying said set of images; receiving a selection of an image of said set of images causing a selection of said primary target object; and responsive to causing said selection of said primary target object, said video camera tracking and capturing additional images of said primary target object.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 130 words

A method of tracking a primary target object using a computer system, a video camera, and a display device, said computer system coupled to said video camera and said display device, said method comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of frames; identifying a plurality of target objects in said plurality of frames; generating a set of images from said plurality of frames, each image of said set of images corresponding to a different target object of said plurality of target objects; displaying said set of images; receiving a selection of an image of said set of images causing a selection of said primary target object; and responsive to causing said selection of said primary target object, said video camera tracking and capturing additional images of said primary target object.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 58 words

The method of claim 10 wherein said generating said set of images includes selecting a set of areas from a subset of said plurality of frames, each area of said set of areas corresponding to one of said different target objects, and each image of said set of images corresponding to a frame of said plurality of frames.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 11 wherein said selecting said set of areas includes receiving a bounding box selection for said each area, said bounding box selection defining said each area.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 85 words

The method of claim 11 wherein said selecting said set of areas includes identifying a first target object of said plurality of target objects, said identifying including searching at least a first frame of said plurality of frames for an object of a predetermined type and finding a first area of said first frame corresponding to said object of said predetermined type, and wherein said generating said set of images includes including a first image, corresponding to said first frame, into said set of images.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 14 words

The method of claim 13 wherein said predetermined type corresponds to a human being.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method of claim 10 wherein said displaying said set of images includes displaying said set of images on said display device, each image corresponding to a different selection area on said display device, and wherein said receiving said selection includes receiving a mouse selection in one selection area.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 102 words

A system for tracking a target object comprising: means for capturing a first image using an imaging device from within a field of view of the imaging device, said first image corresponding to said target object; means for generating a second image from the first image, the second image corresponding to said target object; means for displaying the second image; and means for controlling said imaging device to track and capture additional images of said target object from within said field of view of the imaging device, in response to receiving a selection signal corresponding to a selection of the second image.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 102 words

A system for tracking a target object comprising: means for capturing a first image using an imaging device from within a field of view of the imaging device, said first image corresponding to said target object; means for generating a second image from the first image, the second image corresponding to said target object; means for displaying the second image; and means for controlling said imaging device to track and capture additional images of said target object from within said field of view of the imaging device, in response to receiving a selection signal corresponding to a selection of the second image.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-05-09	2003-11-08	2004-05-09	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-05-09	2007-11-08	2008-05-09	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-05-09	2011-11-08	2012-05-09	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method of tracking objects with an imaging device

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