Abstract: In a method of detecting motion of a particular part from a sequence of successive input images, motion vectors of a plurality of parts of the input images are detected by tracking feature points in the successive input images, the motion of the particular part is detected by processing the motion vectors. The motion detection is performed by producing a histogram of the motion vectors, detecting a peak corresponding to the particular part from the histogram; classifying feature points into a class of feature points belonging to the peak detected in the histogram processing step and a class of the other feature points, and calculating motion of the particular part by analysing the motion vectors belonging to the peak detected in the histogram processing step. The histogram processing step includes detecting the peak corresponding to the particular part on the basis of the class information defined for feature points.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for performing a tracking of a moving object by setting a tracking area corresponding to a moving object appearing in a video image, by setting a plurality of feature points in the tracking area, and by tracking the plurality of feature points, comprises a tracking processing unit for tracking each of the plurality of feature points from the preceding frame to the present frame, and a motion calculation processing unit for specifying a position of the tracking area in the present frame by estimating the motion of the tracking area based the tracking result of each of the feature points, wherein the tracking processing unit calculates reliability indicating the height of the possibility that a feature point exists in the moving object to each of the feature points, and the motion calculation processing unit calculates the motion of the tracking area by using the reliability.

Abstract: In a method of detecting motion of a particular part from a sequence of successive input images, motion vectors of a plurality of parts of the input images are detected by tracking feature points in the successive input images, the motion of the particular part is detected by processing the motion vectors. The motion detection is performed by producing a histogram of the motion vectors, detecting a peak corresponding to the particular part from the histogram; classifying feature points into a class of feature points belonging to the peak detected in the histogram processing step and a class of the other feature points, and calculating motion of the particular part by analysing the motion vectors belonging to the peak detected in the histogram processing step. The histogram processing step includes detecting the peak corresponding to the particular part on the basis of the class information defined for feature points.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for performing a tracking of a moving object by setting a tracking area corresponding to a moving object appearing in a video image, by setting a plurality of feature points in the tracking area, and by tracking the plurality of feature points, comprises a tracking processing unit for tracking each of the plurality of feature points from the preceding frame to the present frame, and a motion calculation processing unit for specifying a position of the tracking area in the present frame by estimating the motion of the tracking area based the tracking result of each of the feature points, wherein the tracking processing unit calculates reliability indicating the height of the possibility that a feature point exists in the moving object to each of the feature points, and the motion calculation processing unit calculates the motion of the tracking area by using the reliability.