SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IDENTIFYING SIMILARITIES AMONG ALARMS

1 . A method for resolving an alarm raised by an imaging system, the alarm triggered by an alarm target including a plurality of objects, said method comprising:

receiving a plurality of images from the imaging system;

calculating at least one feature value for each object of the plurality of objects;

determining whether each object is part of the alarm target; and

rendering a decision on the alarm target.

2 . A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the step of calculating at least one feature value further comprises using a plurality of image elements associated with each object.

3 . A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the step of calculating at least one feature value further comprises calculating at least one of a mean value of a plurality of image elements associated with each object and a standard deviation value of a plurality of image elements associated with each object.

4 . A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the step of determining whether each object is part of the alarm target further comprises:

comparing the at least one feature value of a first object of the plurality of objects with the at least one feature value of at least a second object of the plurality of objects; and

determining whether the at least one feature value of the first object is within a predetermined range of the at least one feature value of the second object.

5 . (canceled)

6 . A method in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising removing an object of the plurality of objects from the alarm target if the object is determined to not be part of the alarm target.

7 . A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the step of rendering a decision further comprises clearing the alarm target if all objects of the plurality of objects are determined to not be part of the alarm target.

8 . A post-detection classification system for use with an imaging system comprising a detection component configured to raise an alarm for an alarm target comprising a plurality of objects, said post-detection classification system configured to determine whether the plurality of objects are part of the alarm target, said post-detection classification system comprising:

a memory electrically connected to a system bus; and

at least one processor electrically coupled to said system bus, said at least one processor configured to communicate with said memory, said post-detection classification system further configured to:

receive a plurality of images from the imaging system;

store the received images in said memory;

calculate at least one feature value for each object of the plurality of objects using a plurality of image elements associated with each object;

determine whether each object is part of the alarm target; and

render a decision on the alarm target.

9 . A post-detection classification system in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said at least one feature value comprises at least one of a mean value of a plurality of image elements associated with each object and a standard deviation value of a plurality of image elements associated with each object.

10 . A post-detection classification system in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said post-detection classification system is further configured to compare the at least one feature value of a first object of the plurality of objects with the at least one feature value of at least a second object of the plurality of objects.

11 . A post-detection classification system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said post-detection classification system is further configured to determine whether the at least one feature value of the first object is within a predetermined range of the at least one feature value of the second object of the plurality of objects.

12 . A post-detection classification system in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said post-detection classification system is further configured to remove an object of the plurality of objects from the alarm target when the object is not part of the alarm target.

13 . A post-detection classification system in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said post-detection classification system is further configured to clear the alarm target all objects of the plurality of objects are not part of the alarm target.

14 . A post-detection classification system in accordance with claim 8 , wherein said post-detection classification system is further configured to clear the alarm target when a predetermined proportion of the plurality of objects is not part of the alarm target.

15 . A method for separating a false alarm from a true alarm, the alarm triggered by an alarm object, said method comprising:

receiving a plurality of images from an imaging system, the imaging system having raised the alarm;

calculating a plurality of feature values for each object of the plurality of objects using a plurality of image elements associated with each object;

comparing at least one feature value of the plurality of feature values calculated for a first object of the plurality of objects with the at least one feature value of the plurality of feature values calculated for at least a second object of the plurality of objects; and

rendering a decision on the alarm target.

16 . A method in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the step of calculating further comprises calculating at least one of a mean value of the plurality of image elements associated with each object and a standard deviation value of the plurality of image elements associated with each object.

17 . A method in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the step of comparing further comprises determining whether the at least one feature value calculated for the first object is within a predetermined range of the at least one feature value calculated for the at least the second object.

18 . A method in accordance with claim 15 , further comprising removing an object of the plurality of objects from the alarm target when the object is not part of the alarm target.

19 . A method in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the step of rendering a decision further comprises clearing the alarm target when all objects of the plurality of objects are not part of the alarm target.

20 . A method in accordance with claim 15 , wherein the step of rendering a decision further comprises clearing the alarm target when a predetermined proportion of the plurality of objects is not part of the alarm target.

21 . A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the step of rendering a decision further comprises clearing the alarm target when a predetermined proportion of the plurality of objects is not part of the alarm target.