Moving object detection from MPEG coded picture

Intelligent transport systems (ITS) have been developed as next generation systems which unite multimedia technology and the roadway. One ITS technology, image processing, for example, the detection and tracking of moving objects (e.g. vehicles), is studied. On the other hand, the coding technique of MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group) is used as the worldwide standard method of video data compression. Japan Highway Public Corporation (JH) adopted MPEG to transmit picture data from the surveillance system on the roadway to the control center. Therefore, we propose a method to analyze moving pictures by directly manipulating the MPEG stream. Our proposed method extracts plural moving objects from the MPEG stream without a decoding process, and tracks them even if they approach and cross. It is implemented to extract moving cars on the roadway, and its effectiveness is verified.