Method and apparatus for identifying physical features in video

Abstract

An image is processed by a sensed-feature-based classifier to generate a list of objects assigned to classes. The most prominent objects (those objects whose classification is most likely reliable) are selected for range estimation and interpolation. Based on the range estimation and interpolation, the sensed features are converted to physical features for each object. Next, that subset of objects is then run through a physical-feature-based classifier that re-classifies the objects. Next, the objects and their range estimates are re-run through the processes of range estimation and interpolation, sensed-feature-to-physical-feature conversion, and physical-feature-based classification iteratively to continuously increase the reliability of the classification as well as the range estimation. The iterations are halted when the reliability reaches a predetermined confidence threshold. In a preferred embodiment, a next subset of objects having the next highest prominence in the same image is selected and the entire iterative process is repeated. This set of iterations will include evaluation of both of the first and second subsets of objects. The process can be repeated until all objects have been classified.