Object Tracking Template Verification for Appearance Changes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing object tracking systems face challenges in maintaining tracking performance due to changes in the appearance of the target object, often leading to inappropriate template updates that degrade tracking accuracy.

Innovation Solution

The method employs a combination of forward and backward object tracking using a shared object tracking model to evaluate template candidates based on confidence scores derived from overlap and historical tracking results, ensuring accurate template updates by verifying suitability through backward tracking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If template updates are performed frequently to adapt to appearance changes, then adaptability improves, but tracking accuracy deteriorates due to inappropriate template updates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to appearance changesVSAvoidtracking accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs backward object tracking in advance before final template update decision. This preliminary verification step checks whether a template candidate would be appropriate by tracking backwards from the current frame using the candidate template. Only if the backward tracking results are consistent with forward tracking results is the template update performed, thus preventing inappropriate updates while maintaining adaptability to legitimate appearance changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If forward object tracking is performed continuously to maintain tracking results, then tracking performance is maintained, but computational resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetracking performanceVSAvoidcomputational resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic template updates rather than continuous updates. Template updates are performed at specific intervals or under specific conditions (when appearance changes are detected and verified through backward tracking). This periodic approach maintains tracking performance when needed while reducing computational resource consumption during stable periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Measurement precision

If backward object tracking is performed to verify template candidates, then template update accuracy improves, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemplate update accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses backward tracking results as an intermediary verification mechanism. Instead of directly accepting template candidates based on forward tracking alone, the system introduces backward tracking as an intermediate validation step. This intermediary process checks consistency by tracking backwards from the current frame, ensuring template update accuracy while minimizing processing time through efficient consistency checking rather than full re-tracking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4276759B1Method and apparatus with object tracking
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4276759B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4276759B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4276759B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A processor-implemented method for object tracking includes: performing, using a first template, forward object tracking on first image frames in a first sequence group; determining a template candidate of a second template for second image frames in a second sequence group; performing backward object tracking on the first image frames using the template candidate; determining a confidence of the template candidate using a result of comparing a first tracking result determined by the forward object tracking performed on the first image frames and a second tracking result determined by the backward object tracking performed on the first image frames; determining the second template based on the confidence of the template candidate; and performing forward object tracking on the second image frames using the second template.