IP Library Granted Patent US 12,367,656
Granted Patent B2
US 12,367,656 · App. 17/940,884 · Granted Jul 22, 2025

Method and system for semi-supervised state transition detection for object tracking

Inventors: Matthew A. Shreve (Campbell, CA); Robert R. Price (Palo Alto, CA); Jeyasri Subramanian (Sunnyvale, CA); Sumeet Menon (Baltimore, MD)
Assignee: Xerox Corporation
G06V10/764G06V10/26G06V10/7753G06V10/776G06V10/82G06V20/41
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,367,656
App. No.
17/940,884
Granted
Jul 22, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system determines an input video and a first annotated image from the input video which identifies an object of interest. The system initiates a tracker based on the first annotated image and the input video. The tracker generates, based on the first annotated image and the input video, information including: a sliding window for false positives; a first set of unlabeled images from the input video; and at least two images with corresponding labeled states. A semi-supervised classifier classifies, based on the information, the first set of unlabeled images from the input video. If a first unlabeled image is classified as a false positive, the system reinitiates the tracker based on a second annotated image occurring in a frame prior to a frame with the false positive. The system generates an output video comprising the input video displayed with tracking on the object of interest.

Claims (102)

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving an input video and a first annotated image from the input video, wherein the first annotated image identifies an object of interest in the input video;

initiating a tracker based on the first annotated image and the input video beginning from a start of the input video;

generating, by the tracker based on the first annotated image and the input video, information including: a sliding window for false positives; a first set of unlabeled images from the input video; and at least two images in which the object of interest is labeled with its corresponding state;

classifying, by a semi-supervised classifier based on the information, the first set of unlabeled images from the input video;

responsive to determining that a first unlabeled image is classified as a false positive, reinitiating the tracker based on a second annotated image and the input video beginning from a frame with the second annotated image, wherein the frame with the second annotated image occurs in the input video prior to a frame with the first unlabeled image classified as a false positive; and

generating an output video comprising the input video displayed with tracking on the object of interest, wherein the object of interest in each image from the input video is annotated and labeled with its corresponding state.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second annotated images comprise at least one of:

a bounding box or area defined by a user; and

a bounding box or area automatically generated by a computer.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least two images in which the object of interest is labeled with its corresponding state are labeled based on at least one of:

a state defined by a user;

a state determined by the user upon a query or other prompt from a computer; and

a state determined or detected by the computer.

4. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the object of interest in the input video comprises a region of interest in the input video.

5. The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the sliding window for false positives comprises background images corresponding to a background state, and

wherein the semi-supervised classifier classifies the first set of unlabeled images into at least one of: the background state; and a corresponding labeled state for the at least two images.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the semi-supervised classifier comprises at least one of:

a FixMatch algorithm;

a SimCLR framework; and

a ReMixMatch algorithm.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein classifying the first set of unlabeled images from the input video comprises:

applying an overall loss function which is based on a supervised loss function and an unsupervised loss function,

wherein the supervised loss function is applied to the at least two images with corresponding labeled states, and

wherein the unsupervised loss function is applied to the first set of unlabeled images.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein for a respective unlabeled image of the first set of unlabeled images from the input video, the method further comprises:

generating a weakly augmented image of the respective unlabeled image;

generating a strongly augmented image of the respective unlabeled image;

generating, by a convolutional neural network (CNN), a first prediction of a state for the weakly augmented image;

responsive to determining that the first prediction is greater than a predetermined threshold, generating, based on the first prediction, a pseudo-label for the respective unlabeled image;

generating, by the CNN, a second prediction of a state for the strongly augmented image; and

applying the unsupervised loss function to the respective unlabeled image, wherein the unsupervised loss function minimizes a loss between the first prediction and the second prediction.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a third annotated image from the input video, wherein the third annotated image identifies the object of interest at an end of the input video;

initiating the tracker based on the third annotated image and the input video in reverse beginning from the end of the input video; and

generating, by the tracker based on the third annotated image and the input video in reverse, a second set of unlabeled images from the input video,

wherein the first set of unlabeled images includes the second set of unlabeled images.

10. A computer system, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a storage device storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving an input video and a first annotated image from the input video, wherein the first annotated image identifies an object of interest in the input video;

initiating a tracker based on the first annotated image and the input video beginning from a start of the input video;

generating, by the tracker based on the first annotated image and the input video, information including: a sliding window for false positives; a first set of unlabeled images from the input video; and at least two images in which the object of interest is labeled with its corresponding state;

classifying, by a semi-supervised classifier based on the information, the first set of unlabeled images from the input video;

responsive to determining that a first unlabeled image is classified as a false positive, reinitiating the tracker based on a second annotated image and the input video beginning from a frame with the second annotated image, wherein the frame with the second annotated image occurs in the input video prior to a frame with the first unlabeled image classified as a false positive; and

generating an output video comprising the input video displayed with tracking on the object of interest, wherein the object of interest in each image from the input video is annotated and labeled with its corresponding state.

11. The computer system of claim 10 ,

wherein the first and second annotated images comprise at least one of:

a bounding box or area defined by a user; and

a bounding box or area automatically generated by a computer, and

wherein the object of interest in the input video comprises a region of interest in the input video.

12. The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the at least two images in which the object of interest is labeled with its corresponding state are labeled based on at least one of:

a state defined by a user;

a state determined by the user upon a query or other prompt from a computer; and

a state determined or detected by the computer.

13. The computer system of claim 10 ,

wherein the sliding window for false positives comprises background images corresponding to a background state, and

wherein the semi-supervised classifier classifies the first set of unlabeled images into at least one of: the background state; and a corresponding labeled state for the at least two images.

14. The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the semi-supervised classifier comprises at least one of:

a FixMatch algorithm;

a SimCLR framework; and

a ReMixMatch algorithm.

15. The computer system of claim 10 , wherein classifying the first set of unlabeled images from the input video comprises:

applying an overall loss function which is based on a supervised loss function and an unsupervised loss function,

wherein the supervised loss function is applied to the at least two images with corresponding labeled states, and

wherein the unsupervised loss function is applied to the first set of unlabeled images.

16. The computer system of claim 15 , wherein for a respective unlabeled image of the first set of unlabeled images from the input video, the method further comprises:

generating a weakly augmented image of the respective unlabeled image;

generating a strongly augmented image of the respective unlabeled image;

generating, by a convolutional neural network (CNN), a first prediction of a state for the weakly augmented image;

responsive to determining that the first prediction is greater than a predetermined threshold, generating, based on the first prediction, a pseudo-label for the respective unlabeled image;

generating, by the CNN, a second prediction of a state for the strongly augmented image; and

applying the unsupervised loss function to the respective unlabeled image, wherein the unsupervised loss function minimizes a loss between the first prediction and the second prediction.

17. The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:

determining a third annotated image from the input video, wherein the third annotated image identifies the object of interest at an end of the input video;

initiating the tracker based on the third annotated image and the input video in reverse beginning from the end of the input video; and

generating, by the tracker based on the third annotated image and the input video in reverse, a second set of unlabeled images from the input video,

wherein the first set of unlabeled images includes the second set of unlabeled images.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving an input video;

determining a first annotated image from the input video, wherein the first annotated image identifies an object of interest in the input video;

initiating a tracker based on the first annotated image and the input video beginning from a start of the input video;

generating, based on the first annotated image and the input video, information including: a sliding window for false positives; a first set of unlabeled images from the input video; and at least two images in which the object of interest is labeled with its corresponding state;

classifying, by a semi-supervised classifier based on the information, the first set of unlabeled images from the input video;

determining whether a first unlabeled image is classified as a false positive,

responsive to determining that a first unlabeled image is classified as a false positive, reinitiating the tracker based on a second annotated image and the input video beginning from a frame with the second annotated image, wherein the frame with the second annotated image occurs in the input video prior to a frame with the first unlabeled image classified as a false positive; and

generating an output video comprising the input video displayed with tracking on the object of interest, wherein the object of interest in each image from the input video is annotated and labeled with its corresponding state.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 ,

wherein the first and second annotated images comprise at least one of:

a bounding box or area defined by a user; and

a bounding box or area automatically generated by a computer; and

wherein the at least two images with the corresponding labeled states are labeled based on at least one of:

a state defined by a user;

a state determined by the user upon a query or other prompt from a computer; and

a state determined or detected by the computer.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises:

determining a third annotated image from the input video, wherein the third annotated image identifies the object of interest at an end of the input video;

initiating the tracker based on the third annotated image and the input video in reverse beginning from the end of the input video; and

generating, based on the third annotated image and the input video in reverse, a second set of unlabeled images from the input video,

wherein the first set of unlabeled images includes the second set of unlabeled images.

Assignments (8)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 6, 2026
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: GENESEE VALLEY INNOVATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 075020/0755 →
SECOND LIEN NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 2, 2025
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071785/0550 →
FIRST LIEN NOTES PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2025
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 070824/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2024
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066741/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2023
From: XEROX CORPORATION
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 065628/0019 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE REMOVAL OF US PATENTS 9356603, 10026651, 10626048 AND INCLUSION OF US PATENT 7167871 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 064038 FRAME 0001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Jun 28, 2023
From: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064161/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 20, 2023
From: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
To: XEROX CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 064038/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 9, 2022
From: SHREVE, MATTHEW A.; PRICE, ROBERT R.; SUBRAMANIAN, JEYASRI; MENON, SUMEET
To: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 061050/0783 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240087287A1 · Mar 14, 2024
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