Method and apparatus for surveillance

Abstract

There is included a method of surveillance comprising the steps of obtaining image data of a scene, the image data including depth data providing depth information, processing the depth data to identify potential head object(s), that may represent head(s) of persons in the scene, and processing the image data to discount objects within a predetermined lateral distance of potential head objects.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of surveillance comprising the steps of:
 obtaining image data of a scene, the image data including depth data providing depth information,   processing the depth data to identify potential head object(s), that may represent head(s) of persons in the scene, and   processing the image data to discount objects within a predetermined lateral distance of potential head objects.   
     
     
         2 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising the step of identifying the remaining potential head object(s) as head objects representing the heads of persons in the scene. 
     
     
         3 . The method in accordance with or  claim 2 , wherein the image data comprises a video feed, and the method comprises the further step of processing the image data to track motion of one or more identified head objects. 
     
     
         4 . The method in accordance with  claim 3 , further comprising the step of analysing the motion of a head object and determining the behaviour of a person represented by the head object. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus for surveillance, comprising:
 an image sensor arranged to obtain image data of a scene, the image data including depth data providing depth information, and   a processor arranged to process the depth data to identify potential head objects that may represent heads of persons in the scene, the processor being arranged to process the image data to discount objects within a predetermined distance of potential head objects.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein the image sensor is a 3-dimensional camera. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the processor is arranged to provide a count of the head objects, to provide a count of the persons in the scene. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the image sensor is a video camera and the image data comprises a video feed, the processor being arranged to track motion of head objects in order to track motion of persons within the scene. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the processor is arranged to determine behaviour of the persons being tracked, on the basis of their motion. 
     
     
         10 . A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method comprising:
 obtaining image data of a scene, the image data including depth data providing depth information,   processing the depth data to identify potential head object(s), that may represent head(s) of persons in the scene, and   processing the image data to discount objects within a predetermined lateral distance of potential head objects.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable medium in accordance with  claim 10  storing a computer program having the computer executable instructions. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable medium in accordance with  claim 10  included in a data signal.