Video object classification

1. A method for classifying one or more objects in at least one video, wherein the at least one video comprises a plurality of frames, the method comprising:

tracking one or more objects in the plurality of frames;

computing a level of deformation for each of the one or more tracked objects in accordance with at least one change in a plurality of histograms of oriented gradients for a corresponding tracked object; and

classifying each of the one or more tracked objects in accordance with the computed level of deformation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a given tracked object is classified as at least one of a person and a vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of computing at least one of a size vector for each of the one or more tracked objects, a velocity vector for each of the one or more tracked objects, and a location vector for each of the one or more tracked objects.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein each of the one or more tracked objects are classified in accordance with a function of the size vector, the velocity vector, the location vector, and the level of deformation of a corresponding tracked object.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising the step of adjusting a class of a given tracked object in accordance with at least one of a time of day, an environment, and an observation that the given tracked object belongs to a specific class.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the level of deformation for each tracked object characterizes a degree of change in the form of each tracked object in the plurality of frames of the at least one video.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising specifying one or more regions of interest for one or more object classes, wherein a given region of interest indicates that one or more object classes is or is not likely to be present in the given region of interest.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein classifying each of the one or more tracked objects is based at least in part on the specified regions of interest.

9. An apparatus for classifying one or more objects in at least one video, wherein the at least one video comprises a plurality of frames, the apparatus comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor coupled to the memory and operative to: track one or more objects in the plurality of frames; compute a level of deformation for each of the one or more tracked objects in accordance with at least one change in a plurality of histograms of oriented gradients for a corresponding tracked object; and classify each of the one or more tracked objects in accordance with the computed level of deformation.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a given tracked object is classified as at least one of a person and a vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is further operative to compute at least one of a size vector for each of the one or more tracked objects, a velocity vector for each of the one or more tracked objects, and a location vector for each of the one or more tracked objects.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein each of the one or more tracked objects are classified in accordance with a function of the size vector, the velocity vector, the location vector, and the level of deformation of a corresponding tracked object.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor is further operative to adjust a class of a given tracked object in accordance with at least one of a time of day, an environment, and an observation that the given tracked object belongs to a specific class.

14. A computer program product for classifying one or more objects in at least one video, wherein the at least one video comprises a plurality of frames, the computer program product comprising:

a computer-readable storage medium;

a first program instruction to track one or more objects in the plurality of frames;

a second program instruction to compute a level of deformation for each of the one or more tracked objects in accordance with at least one change in a plurality of histograms of oriented gradients for a corresponding tracked object; and

a third program instruction to classify each of the one or more tracked objects in accordance with the computed level of deformation,

wherein the first, second, and third program instructions are stored on the computer-readable medium.