Method for estimating an object motion characteristic from a radar signal, a computer system and a computer program product

1. A method for estimating an object motion characteristic from a radar signal, comprising the steps of

receiving radar data of an object from a multiple beam radar system;

associating radar data with at least one of estimated height or cross-range information of object parts causing the corresponding radar data;

fitting an object model with radar data being associated with at least one of a selected estimated height or cross-range information interval, and

determining an object motion characteristic from the fitted object model.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the associating step comprises estimating at least one of height or cross-sectional information of object parts, based on at least one of trilateration or received radar data power.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the fitting step comprises constructing at least one of speed or range data from the received radar data.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the object model comprises an ellipsoid as a function of at least one of speed or range parameters.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the object comprises a human body.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the object model comprises at least one of a torso parameter, a leg parameter or an arm parameter.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of representing radar data as a function of speed, range and at least one of estimated height and cross-sectional information.

8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of representing radar data in a single image.

9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of classifying the estimated object motion characteristic in one class of a pre-determined number of classes, based on characteristic values.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the classifying step is performed based on estimated frequency and radius parameter values.

11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving step comprises receiving radar data from at least three radar stations.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the radar system comprises a multiple number of separate radar stations.

13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the multiple beams of the radar system are mutually coherent.

14. A computer system comprising:

one or more processors;

a non-transitory computer readable medium operatively associated with the one or more processors having encoded thereon software comprising a set of instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more processors, causes the computer system to:

receive radar data of an object sent from a multiple beam radar system;

associate radar data with at least one of estimated height or cross-range information of object parts causing the corresponding radar data;

fit an object model with radar data being associated with at least one of a selected estimated height or cross-range information interval, and

determine an object motion characteristic from the fitted object model.

15. An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having encoded thereon a set of instructions executable by a computer system to perform one or more operations, the set of instructions comprising:

instructions for receiving radar data of an object from a multiple beam radar system;

instructions for associating radar data with at least one of an estimated height or cross-range information of object parts causing the corresponding radar data;

instructions for fitting an object model with radar data being associated with at least one of a selected estimated height or cross-range information interval, and

instructions for determining an object motion characteristic from the fitted object model.