Efficient human action detection using a transferable distance function

Abstract

In this paper, we address the problem of efficient human action detection with only one template. We choose the standard sliding-window approach to scan the template video against test videos, and the template video is represented by patch-based motion features. Using generic knowledge learnt from previous training sets, we weight the patches on the template video, by a transferable distance function. Based on the patch weighting, we propose a cascade structure which can efficiently scan the template video over test videos. Our method is evaluated on a human action dataset with cluttered background, and a ballet video with complex human actions. The experimental results show that our cascade structure not only achieves very reliable detection, but also can significantly improve the efficiency of patch-based human action detection, with an order of magnitude improvement in efficiency. © Springer-Verlag 2010.