Extracting Objects Using Contour Evolutions in Edge-Based Object Tracking

We propose edge-based object extraction targeting automatic video object plane (VOP) generation in MPEG-4 content-based video coding. In an edge-based VOP generation framework proposed by Meier, the object is represented as a binary edge image that does not generally form a closed contour and that also contains many extra edges, making extracting the object contour accurately less straightforward in such situations. To solve this problem, we adopt a PDE-based contour evolution approach to evolve initial multiple contours contained inside the object toward its boundary based on evolution equations, and to finally merge them into a single contour that accurately represents the object’s shape. Our experimental results using an MPEG standard image sequence show that object contours obtained as we propose appear subjectively more natural in shape compared with those obtained by two conventional methods, especially when the binary object model is not in good condition.