SYSTEM FOR, AND METHOD OF, PROCESSING AN IMAGE
A software development kit prioritizes certain aspects of an acquired image and introduces the prioritized aspects to a main processor. Alternatively, a coprocessor, or the coprocessor and the development kit, manipulate(s) the acquired image and introduce(s) the manipulated image to the processor. The reprogramming of either one of the development kit and the coprocessor may be initiated by either one of them or by the processor and the programming may be provided by the main processor. A central station and a gate array may also be individually reprogrammable by the main processor which sets up, programs and controls an intelligent imaging platform in accordance with the individual reprogrammings. A reprogramming of an audio acquisition stage may also be initiated by that stage and any of the other stages and the processor and may be provided by the processor. The audio information may be related to the acquired image.
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This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/113,480, filed Mar. 29, 2002, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThis invention relates to a system for and method of processing an acquired image. More particularly, the invention relates to a system for, and method of, processing an image in a wide variety of ways, not previously capable of being accomplished in the prior art, to provide results which are enhanced compared to what has been able to be achieved in the prior art.
Systems are now in use for processing an acquired image. For example, systems are now in use for processing an acquired image to determine the entrance into, and the departure of individuals from, a defined area such as an enclosure (e.g., a room). Systems are also in use for determining the identity of individuals and objects in an enclosure. Systems are further in use for tracking the movement and variations in the positioning of individuals in an enclosure. These are only a few examples of different types of processing and uses of acquired images.
As of now, different processing and uses of acquired images require different types of systems to be constructed. For example, the same system cannot be used to identify an individual in a crowd and to track the movement of the identified individual in the crowd and particularly the movement of the individual in a defined area such as an enclosure or from one defined area to another defined area. The same system cannot also be used to magnify a particular portion of an acquired image and process that magnified portion. Since different systems are required to perform different functions, costs to individuals or organizations have increased, available space has become limited and complexities in operation have become magnified.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTIONA software development kit prioritizes certain aspects of an acquired image and introduces the prioritized aspects to a main processor. Alternatively, a coprocessor, or the coprocessor and the development kit, manipulate(s) the acquired image and introduce(s) the manipulated image to the processor. The reprogramming of either one of the development kit and the coprocessor may be initiated by either one of them and by the processor and the programming may be provided by the main processor.
A central station and a gate array may also be individually reprogrammable by the main processor which sets up, programs and controls an intelligent imaging platform in accordance with the individual reprogrammings.
A reprogramming of an audio acquisition stage may also be initiated by that stage and any of the other stages and the processor and may be provided by the processor. The audio information may be related to the acquired image.
The hardware section in
The audio signals preferably pass through a bus 35 between the audio codec or acquirer 32 and the field reprogrammable gate array 34. However, the audio signals could pass through a bus between the audio codec or acquirer 32 and the coprocessor 36. The system is more flexible when the audio signals pass between the audio codec or acquirer 32 and the field reprogrammable gate array 34 than when the audio signals pass between the audio codec or acquirer 32 and the coprocessor 36. The ability of the signals from the audio acquirer 32 to pass to either the gate array 34 or the coprocessor 36 may be seen by the extension of the bus 35 to the audio/video interface for the hardware section 28a.
Signals pass between the hardware section 28a and the software section 24 through a bus 38. Signals also pass between a miscellaneous input/output stage 40 (considered as hardware) and the software section 24 through a bus 42. Signals also pass through the hardware section 28b and the software section 24 through a bus 44. The hardware section 28b includes a compact flash card interface 46, a PC card interface 48 and a PCI interface 50. The hardware section 28b provides information storage and includes a capacity for providing information storage expansion and other (non-storage) expansion.
The software section 24 includes a video manipulator 52, an audio manipulator 54, an event generator 56, an event responder 58, a platform user interface 60 and a kernel operating system 62. Each of these stages has an arrow 64 disposed in an oblique direction at the bottom right corner of the stage. The oblique arrow 64 indicates that the stage is capable of being reprogrammed. The reprogramming of any stage with the arrow 64 can be initiated by any stage whether the other stage has the arrow 64 to indicate its capability of being reprogrammed. For example, the reprogramming of any of the stages 34, 36 and 52-62 (even numbers only) can be self initiated and can be initiated by any of the other stages 34, 36 and 52-62 and by any other stages such as the stages 70, 72 and 74. Thus, each of the stages 34, 36 and 52-62 (even numbers only) is illustratively able to be reprogrammed. Thus, the stages 34, 36, 52-62 and 65 (even numbers only) and 65 receiving such communications have an enhanced flexibility in operation in comparison to the stages which do not receive such reprogramming. Each reprogrammable stage including the stages 34, 36 and 52-62 (even numbers only) and 65 can also initiate reprogramming of itself. The reprogramming of each reprogrammable stage including the stages 34, 36 and 52-62 (even numbers only) can be initiated by almost any stage in the system, except for the image acquirer 30, the audio acquirer or codec 32, the miscellaneous input/output 40 and the storage and expansion stage 28b.
A software development kit 65 is indicated by a cloud designated as “platform configuration” with an arrow 64 in the upper left corner. The output from the software development kit 65 is introduced to a main processor 66 to control the operation of the main processor. The software development kit may be considered to be within the main processor 66. The main processor 66 reprograms individual ones of the stages 34, 36 and 52-64 (even numbers only) and the software development kit 65 to process the image acquired by the stage 30 from the intelligent imaging platform 18 and the audio acquired by the stage 32 from the intelligent imaging platform 18.
The field programmable gate array 34 provides reprogrammable arrays of gates to clarify and/or sharpen or otherwise process the video data acquired from the image acquisition stage 30 and introduces the clarified image to the coprocessor 36. The coprocessor 36 manipulates the audio and video data depending upon the results desired to be obtained from the system 10. For example, different manipulations may be provided by the coprocessor 36 when the image is targeted on a single person or a group of people or on an inanimate object. The miscellaneous input/output stage 40 provides such information as motion sensing to indicate to an alarm panel that the camera has observed and detected motion in a scene. The hardware section 40 can also indicate to the intelligent imaging platform that some external device has detected motion and wishes to inform the intelligent imaging platform that an event worth observing is taking place. In addition, the hardware section 40 may also indicate to a lens to change the size of the iris in the lens. It will be appreciated that the hardware section 40 may perform a considerable number of functions other than motion detecting.
The video manipulate stage 52 may manipulate an image to clarify the image as by correcting for color or extracting facial features. This is especially important when faces are in the image and the faces are to be matched against a database identifying a particular face. A similar type of manipulation is provided by the stage 54 with respect to audio information such as when a person is speaking. The event generator 56 matches the image from the stage 52 against the images in the database. This is important when the images are faces. The event responder stage 58 provides a response depending on the matching or lack of matching of the acquired image from the stage 52 and the image in the database. Although the matching has been discussed with reference to faces, the matching can be with respect to any physical object or any perceived state independent of a physical object.
The event responder 58 acts upon the output from the event generator 56 in accordance with the processing which is provided to obtain the desired results. The platform user interface 60 provides a mechanism for taking the information that the intelligent imaging platform 18 sees and the platform user interface 60 processes that information and presents the processed information to the user. It also allows for the user to adjust the setting of the intelligent imaging platform. The platform configuration 65 allows the user of the system to write code for customizing the intelligent imaging platform to provide the desired result. The kernel operating system 62 provides for the basic operation of the intelligent imaging platform. It is well known in the art.
Although the stages 52-62 (even numbers only) and 65 constitute software, they may be disposed in the hardware section 28c, since they control the operation of the main processing hardware 66. The main processing hardware 66 is sometimes referred to in this application as a “main processor”. The main processor 66 is connected by the bus 75 to communication stages or channels in the intelligent imaging platform 18. The intelligent imaging platform 18 includes a subset of communication channels for example, channels 70 (ethernet), 72 (serial) and 74 (firewire) in the communications arrangement 20. The channel 70 receives information from an Ethernet source. The channel 72 receives serial information from an external source. The channel 74 receives high speed information from a protocol known as Firewire and communicates this information to the main processing hardware 66. The channels 70, 72 and 74 are representative of the different types of information that may be acquired by the currently active communication channels in the intelligent imaging platform 18. The representative channels such as the channels 70, 72 and 74 also receive information from the main processor 66 and supply information to the main processor.
The intelligent imaging platform 18 in turn communicates through the communications network 76 to the central station 14. As shown in
The stage 30 acquires an image and introduces the acquired image to the field programmable gate array 34. The gate array 34 processes the image in accordance with the desired processing to be provided of the image and introduces the signals representing the processed image to the coprocessor 36. The coprocessor 36 manipulates the clarified image dependent upon the desired result to be obtained from the system shown in
The signals from the coprocessor 36 are further manipulated by the stages 52 and 54. The video manipulator 52 further enhances the quality of the acquired image or otherwise processes the acquired image. For example, the video manipulator 52 may identify individual faces in a crowd and may extract facial features of an individual. The event generator 56 may match the facial features against a database to identify the individual on the basis of this matching against the database.
The system 10 shown in
The degradation of the signal resolution with increases in distance is particularly troublesome when analog signals are processed. Many of the systems of the prior art have processed analog signals. In contrast, the system of this invention operates on a digital basis. Coupled with the disposition of the controls in the intelligent imaging platform 18, the digital operation of the system of this invention enhances the sensitivity and the reliability and functionality of the system 10.
The system 10 also has other advantages. This results in part from the flexibility in the construction and operation of the system. For example, all of the stages 34, 36, 52-62 (even numbers only) and 65 are reprogrammable. Furthermore, each of the stages 34, 36, 52-62 (even numbers only) and 65 can be reprogrammed on the basis of a decision from that stage or any of the other of these stages. This flexibility in reprogramming provides for an enhanced sensitivity and reliability in the adjustments that can be provided in the operation of the intelligent imaging platform 18, thereby providing an enhanced performance of the platform.
The output of the analyzer 94 is stored or archived as at 96 in
The miscellaneous input/output stage 40 in
The video and audio signals then flow through a bus 124 to the coprocessor 36. The output from the coprocessor 36 is provided to a bus 126. These signals then pass through the gate array 34 to PCI bus 38. The signals on the buses 31 and 122 may also be by-passed through the field reprogrammable gate array 34 to the PCI bus 38 without passing through the coprocessor 36. The signals on the PCI bus 38 pass through the main processor 66 and through a communications bus 129 to the communications network 76 in
The different blocks are defined and determined by the interfaces of applicants' assignee. These interfaces are as follows:
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- 1. The video interface 31 between the image acquirer 30 and the field reprogrammable gate array 34;
- 2. A coprocessor interface 142 between the gate array 34 and the coprocessor 36;
- 3. The hardware interface 38 between the gate array 34 and the main processor 66;
- 4. A communications interface 146 between the main processor 66 and the central station 14; and
- 5. A software interface 148 between the main processor 66 and the software development kit 65.
The request to initiate reprogramming of a reprogrammable block can come from anywhere in the system with the exception of such stages as the image acquirer 30, the audio acquirer or codec 32 and the miscellaneous input/output stage 40. However, the reprogramming is provided by the main processor 66.
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- (a) “Remote Color Video Monitor with Archive”,
- (b) “Face Print Generation and Upload to Server”,
- (c) “Gun Shot Detection and Server Notification,” and
- (d) “Subject Tracking with Realtime Video Monitor.”
The second column in
The third column in
Column 5 in
Column 10 of
Although this invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to particular embodiments, the principle involved are susceptible for use in numerous other embodiments which will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art. The invention is, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims.
Claims
1. A method of processing an image, comprising the steps of:
- acquiring the image,
- providing a main processor for processing the acquired image,
- providing a reprogrammable coprocessor for manipulating the acquired image before the introduction of the acquired image to the main processor, the manipulation being dependent upon the processing of the image by the main processor,
- providing for a reprogramming by any one of the main processor and the coprocessor of the coprocessor, even while the coprocessor is being reprogrammed, wherein
- the reprogramming is provided by the main processor and wherein
- the main processor and the coprocessor are disposed in an intelligent imaging platform.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
- providing a field reprogrammable gate array to clarify the acquired image before the image is processed by the main processor,
- providing a reprogrammable central station, and
- providing a reprogramming by any one of the central station, the main processor, the software development kit, the coprocessor and the field reprogrammable gate array of any one of the software development kit, the coprocessor, the central station and the field reprogrammable gate array.
3. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
- providing a reprogrammable central station for providing for at least one of the steps of setting up, programming and controlling the intelligent imaging platform to be enhanced by the reprogramming of at least one of the central station and the coprocessor, and
- providing for a reprogramming by any one of the main processor, the central station and the coprocessor of any one of the central station and the coprocessor.
4. The method as set forth in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:
- providing an intelligent imaging platform,
- providing a reprogrammable central station for providing for at least one of the steps of setting up, programming and controlling the intelligent imaging platform to be enhanced by the reprogramming of any one of the central station, the field reprogrammable gate array and the coprocessor, and
- providing a reprogramming by any one of the central station, the main processor, the coprocessor and the field reprogrammable gate array of any one of the central station, the coprocessor and the field reprogrammable gate array.
5. A method of processing an image, comprising the steps of:
- acquiring the image,
- providing a main processor for processing the acquired image,
- providing a reprogrammable coprocessor for manipulating the acquired image before the introduction of the acquired image to the main processor, the manipulation being dependent upon the processing of the image by the main processor,
- providing for a reprogramming by any one of the main processor and the coprocessor of the coprocessor, even while the coprocessor is being reprogrammed,
- providing an intelligent imaging platform,
- providing a reprogrammable central station for providing for at least one of the steps of setting up, programming and controlling the intelligent imaging platform to be enhanced by the reprogramming of at least one of the central station and the coprocessor, and
- providing for a reprogramming by any one of the main processor, the central station and the coprocessor of any one of the central station and the coprocessor, wherein
- the reprogramming is provided by the main processor and wherein
- the main processor, the central station and the coprocessor are disposed in the intelligent imaging platform.
6. The method as set forth in claim 5, further comprising the steps of:
- acquiring audio information related to the acquired image,
- providing for a reprogrammable processing of the audio information to clarify the audio information,
- initiating a decision by any one of the main processor and the coprocessor in the software to have the acquired audio information reprogrammed, and
- providing for the reprogramming of the acquired audio information by the main processor when a decision is provided by any one of the main processor and the coprocessor to have the audio information reprogrammed.
7. An apparatus for processing an image to obtain desired results, comprising:
- an image acquirer for acquiring the image and for converting the acquired image to signals representing the image,
- software responsive to the signals from the image acquirer and reprogrammable in accordance with the processing desired of the image for providing signals concentrating on certain aspects of the image, and
- hardware responsive to the signals from the software for reprogramming the software, the reprogramming being initiated by the hardware or the software on the basis of a decision made by the hardware or the software regarding the acquired image.
8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7, further comprising:
- an intelligent imaging platform, and
- a central station responsive to the signals from the hardware and reprogrammable by the hardware or the software on the basis of a decision made by the hardware or software regarding the acquired image for enhancing the operation of the hardware in controlling the operation of the intelligent imaging platform.
9. An apparatus for processing an image to obtain desired results, comprising:
- an image acquirer for acquiring the image and for converting the acquired image to signals representing the image,
- software responsive to the signals from the image acquirer and reprogrammable in accordance with the processing desired of the image for providing signals concentrating on certain aspects of the image,
- hardware responsive to the signals from the software for reprogramming the software to provide the concentrated signals, and
- a coprocessor reprogrammable by any one of the hardware, the software and the coprocessor on the basis of a decision made by the hardware, the software or the coprocessor regarding the acquired image for manipulating the signals acquired from the image in accordance with the results desired to be obtained from the acquired image.
10. An apparatus for processing an image, comprising:
- an image acquirer for acquiring the image and for converting the acquired image to signals representing the acquired image,
- software including a coprocessor reprogrammable for manipulating the signals acquired from the image acquirer in accordance with the results desired to be obtained, and
- a main processor for processing the manipulated signals from the reprogrammable coprocessor and for reprogramming the coprocessor on the basis of a decision made by the main processor or the software regarding the acquired image.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 1, 2013
Publication Date: Apr 10, 2014
Applicant: IQinVision ,Inc. (San Juan Capistrano, CA)
Inventor: IQinVision ,Inc.
Application Number: 13/854,921
International Classification: H04N 5/232 (20060101); G06T 1/00 (20060101);