Contour tracking by multi-frame relaxation

This paper describes a novel feature tracking method. It is based on an inter-frame relaxation technique. This method combines intra-frame and inter-frame constraints on the behaviour of acceptable contour structure. The intra-frame information is represented by both a dictionary of local contour structure and a statistical model of the response of a set of directional feature detection operators. The inter-frame ingredient represents the novel modelling component; it is encapsulated by an implicit model of the underlying surface structure of 3D feature points. The model is represented in terms of a series of unimodal probability densities whose single parameter is the inter-frame distance. The initial probabilities in our relaxation scheme effectively combine distributions describing the statistical uncertainties in the position and feature characteristics of multiframe contours; these probabilities are refined in the light of the dictionary to produce consistent contours