Method and system for characterizing movement of an object

Abstract

Motion of an object is characterized based on data indicative of a plurality of pixilated images of the object. An outline of the object may be extracted from the data for each pixilated image of the object. Changes over time in a shape and/or position of the outline may be used to determine a speed associated with the object.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method for characterizing movement of an object having at least one feature, the method comprising:
 identifying data indicative of a plurality of pixels defining an apparent shape and apparent size of the at least one feature from data indicative of a pixilated image of the object;   classifying the at least one feature into one of a plurality of predetermined feature classes based on the apparent shape of the at least one feature;   estimating an actual size of the at least one feature based on the classification; and   determining a parameter indicative of the movement of the object based on the estimated actual size of the at least one feature, the apparent size of the at least one feature and a change in the apparent size of the at least one feature.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the data indicative of the plurality of pixels further defines an apparent position of the at least one feature and wherein the determined parameter indicative of the movement of the object is further based on a change in the apparent position of the at least one feature. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the determined parameter indicative of the movement of the object is further based on a change in the apparent shape of the at least one feature. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising displaying a representation of the determined parameter with a pixilated image of the object. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining whether the object is moving. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the determined parameter comprises a speed of the object. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining a parameter indicative of the movement of the object includes determining whether the object is rotating. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one feature comprises an outline of the object. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one feature comprises an outline of a portion of the object. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein classifying the at least one feature into one of a plurality of predetermined feature classes based on the apparent shape of the at least one feature includes comparing the apparent shape of the at least one feature with a plurality of shapes corresponding to the predetermined feature classes. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of predetermined feature classes comprises a plurality of predetermined geometric shapes. 
     
     
         12 . A computer-readable storage medium having information stored thereon for directing a computer to perform the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . A system for characterizing movement of an object having a feature, the system comprising:
 a computing machine configured to
 receive input indicative of a pixilated image of the object, 
 identify data indicative of a plurality of pixels defining an apparent shape and apparent size of the at least one feature from the input indicative of the pixilated image of the object, 
 classify the at least one feature into one of a plurality of predetermined feature classes based on the apparent shape of the at least one feature, 
 estimate an actual size of the at least one feature based on the classification, 
 determine a parameter indicative of the movement of the object based on the estimated actual size of the at least one feature, the apparent size of the at least one feature and a change in the apparent size of the at least one feature, and 
 provide output indicative of the determined parameter. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the data indicative of the plurality of pixels further defines an apparent position of the at least one feature and wherein the determined parameter indicative of the movement of the object is further based on a change in the apparent position of the at least one feature. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the determined parameter indicative of the movement of the object is further based on a change in the apparent shape of the at least one feature. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the computing machine is further configured to display a representation of the determined parameter with a pixilated image of the object. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the computing machine is further configured to determine whether the object is moving. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the determined parameter comprises a speed of the object. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13  wherein determining a parameter indicative of the movement of the object includes determining whether the object is rotating. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the at least one feature comprises an outline of the object. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the at least one feature comprises an outline of a portion of the object. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 13  wherein classifying the at least one feature into one of a plurality of predetermined feature classes based on the apparent shape of the at least one feature includes comparing the apparent shape of the at least one feature with a plurality of shapes corresponding to the predetermined feature classes. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of predetermined feature classes comprises a plurality of predetermined geometric shapes. 
     
     
         24 . A system for analyzing movement of an object having at least one feature, the system comprising:
 a processing unit configured to
 receive a plurality of pixilated images of the object, 
 extract an outline of the at least one feature from each of the plurality of pixilated images of the object, 
 determine an apparent position of the at least one feature within each of the plurality of pixilated images of the object, 
 determine an apparent size of the at least one feature for each of the plurality of pixilated images of the object, 
 estimate an actual size of the at least one feature based on at least one of the outlines, and 
 determine a parameter indicative of the movement of the object based on the estimated actual size of the at least one feature, the apparent sizes of the at least one feature, and at least one of (i) the outlines of the at least one feature and (ii) the apparent positions of the at least one feature. 
   
     
     
         25 . A system for analyzing movement of an object, the system comprising:
 a processing unit configured to
 receive image input indicative of a plurality of pixilated images of the object and size input indicative of an estimated size of the object; 
 determine a speed of the object based on the image and size inputs; and 
 provide output indicative of the determined speed of the object.