Object tracking for retrieval applications in MPEG-2

The work presented in this article describes a tool for object tracking, notes insertion, and information retrieval, applicable to MPEG-2 sequences. Maximum compliance with the MPEG standard is sought, so the added information is transmitted as side information without affecting the actual video-audio stream as defined in the MPEG-2 standard. Additional processing is added to a standard sequence, allowing for automatic tracking of one object across different groups of pictures. Results show that the proposed algorithm is capable of tracking objects with a good degree of precision. Features are included to alert the human operator when objects disappear, or must be considered lost, due to an excessive change in their shape.