IP Library Granted Patent US 12,499,555
Granted Patent B2
US 12,499,555 · App. 18/227,453 · Granted Dec 16, 2025

Systems and methods for efficient video instance segmentation for vehicles using edge computing

Inventors: Yitao Chen (Tempe, AZ); Dawei Chen (Milpitas, CA); Kyungtae Han (Palo Alto, CA)
Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.; Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
G06T7/12G06V10/761G06V10/764G06V20/56G06T2207/20081
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,499,555
App. No.
18/227,453
Granted
Dec 16, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for video instance segmentation is provided. The method includes inputting a plurality of video frames collected by a sensor of a vehicle to a trained machine learning model to obtain an n-th output from an n-th layer of the trained machine learning model and an n+1-st output from an n+1-st layer of the trained machine learning model, the trained machine learning model comprising a deep learning model and early-exit subnets, and in response to determining that a difference between the n-th output and the n+1-st output is less than a threshold value, controlling the vehicle based on the n+1-st output, the n+1-st output includes information about instances in the plurality of video frames.

Claims (59)

1 . A method for video instance segmentation, the method comprising:

inputting a plurality of video frames collected by a sensor of a vehicle to a trained machine learning model to obtain an n-th output from an n-th layer of the trained machine learning model and an n+1-st output from an n+1-st layer of the trained machine learning model, the trained machine learning model comprising a deep learning model and early-exit subnets; and

in response to determining that a difference between the n-th output and the n+1-st output is less than a threshold value, controlling the vehicle based on the n+1-st output, the n+1-st output includes information about instances in the plurality of video frames.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the deep learning model is a transformer-based model,

the n-th layer of the trained machine learning model is an n-th layer of the transformer-based model, and

the n+1-st layer of the trained machine learning model is an n+1-st layer of the transformer-based model.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

preprocessing video data collected by the sensor of the vehicle; and

determining whether the plurality of video frames is the same as or greater than a threshold number; and

in response to determining that the plurality of video frames is the same as or greater than a threshold number, inputting the plurality of video frames to the trained machine learning model.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the n-th output and the n+1-st output includes instance segmentation masks of the video frames, and

the difference between the n-th output and the n+1-st output is determined by comparing boundaries of instance segmentation masks in the n-th output and boundaries of instance segmentation masks in the n+1-st output.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the n-th output and the n+1-st output includes instance segmentation of the video frames, and

the difference between the n-th output and the n+1-st output is determined by comparing classified objects in the n-th output and classified objects in the n+1-st output.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the n-th output and the n+1-st output includes instance segmentation of the video frames, and

the difference between the n-th output and the n+1-st output is determined by comparing pixels of instance segmentation masks in the n-th output and pixels of instance segmentation masks in the n+1-st output.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

training an initial machine learning model to obtain the trained machine learning model by:

training the deep learning model of the initial machine learning model using a training data set including a plurality of video frames as input and instance segmentation masks as output; and

training the early-exit subnets of the initial machine learning model using a training data set including a plurality of video frames as input and instance segmentation masks as output.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising:

optimizing the trained initial machine learning model by removing redundant or unnecessary layers or parameters of the trained initial machine learning model.

9 . A vehicle comprising:

a sensor configured to collect a plurality of video frames; and

a controller programmed to:

input the plurality of video frames collected by the sensor to a trained machine learning model to obtain an n-th output from an n-th layer of the trained machine learning model and an n+1-st output from an n+1-st layer of the trained machine learning model, the trained machine learning model comprising a deep learning model and early-exit subnets; and

in response to determining that a difference between the n-th output and the n+1-st output is less than a threshold value, control the vehicle based on the n+1-st output, the n+1-st output includes information about instances in the plurality of video frames.

10 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the deep learning model is a transformer-based model,

the n-th layer of the trained machine learning model is an n-th layer of the transformer-based model, and

the n+1-st layer of the trained machine learning model is an n+1-st layer of the transformer-based model.

11 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the controller is further programmed to:

preprocess video data collected by the sensor; and

determine whether the plurality of video frames is the same as or greater than a threshold number; and

in response to determining that the plurality of video frames is the same as or greater than a threshold number, input the plurality of video frames to the trained machine learning model.

12 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein each of the n-th output and the n+1-st output includes instance segmentation masks of the video frames, and

the difference between the n-th output and the n+1-st output is determined by comparing boundaries of instance segmentation masks in the n-th output and boundaries of instance segmentation masks in the n+1-st output.

13 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein each of the n-th output and the n+1-st output includes instance segmentation of the video frames, and

the difference between the n-th output and the n+1-st output is determined by comparing classified objects in the n-th output and classified objects in the n+1-st output.

14 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein each of the n-th output and the n+1-st output includes instance segmentation of the video frames, and

the difference between the n-th output and the n+1-st output is determined by comparing pixels of instance segmentation masks in the n-th output and pixels of instance segmentation masks in the n+1-st output.

15 . The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the vehicle autonomously drives based on the n+1-st output.

16 . A system comprising:

a server; and

a vehicle comprising:

a sensor configured to collect a plurality of video frames; and

a processor programmed to:

input the plurality of video frames collected by the sensor to a trained machine learning model to obtain an n-th output from an n-th layer of the trained machine learning model and an n+1-st output from an n+1-st layer of the trained machine learning model, the trained machine learning model comprising a deep learning model and early-exit subnets; and

in response to determining that a difference between the n-th output and the n+1-st output is less than a threshold value, control the vehicle based on the n+1-st output, the n+1-st output includes information about instances in the plurality of video frames.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the server is further programmed to:

train an initial machine learning model to obtain the trained machine learning model by:

training the deep learning model of the initial machine learning model using a training data set including a plurality of video frames as input and instance segmentation masks as output; and

training the early-exit subnets of the initial machine learning model using a training data set including a plurality of video frames as input and instance segmentation masks as output.

18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the server is programmed to:

optimize the trained initial machine learning model by removing redundant or unnecessary layers or parameters of the trained initial machine learning model.

19 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the deep learning model is a transformer-based model,

the n-th layer of the trained machine learning model is an n-th layer of the transformer-based model, and

the n+1-st layer of the trained machine learning model is an n+1-st layer of the transformer-based model.

20 . The system of claim 16 , wherein each of the n-th output and the n+1-st output includes instance segmentation masks of the video frames, and

the difference between the n-th output and the n+1-st output is determined by comparing boundaries of instance segmentation masks in the n-th output and boundaries of instance segmentation masks in the n+1-st output.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 31, 2025
From: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 073342/0850 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 28, 2023
From: CHEN, YITAO; CHEN, DAWEI; HAN, KYUNGTAE
To: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.; TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Reel/Frame 064417/0801 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250037285A1 · Jan 30, 2025
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