Mode removal for improved multi-modal background subtraction

MODE REMOVAL FOR IMPROVED MULTI-MODAL BACKGROUND SUBTRACTION Disclosed herein are a method and system for updating a visual element model (240) of a scene model (230) associated with a scene captured in an image sequence, the visual element model (240) including a set of mode models (260, 270) for a visual element corresponding to a location of the scene. The method receives an incoming visual element 5 (220) of a current frame (210) of the image sequence and, for each mode model (260, 270) in the visual element model (240), classifies the respective mode model (260, 270) as one of a matching mode model and a distant mode model, dependent upon a comparison between an appearance of the incoming visual element (220) and a set of visual characteristics of the respective mode model (260, 270). The method removes a distant mode model from the o visual element model (240), based upon a first temporal characteristic of a matching mode model exceeding a maturity threshold and a second temporal characteristic of the distant mode model being below a stability threshold. 541 1733 [.DOC IRN: 979066 - 2/9 Input Frame Scene Model Visual Element Model Mode Model 1, 261 Appearance: [binary data] 262 Status: Background, 263 Created: 0, Matched: 5, Last-Matched: 4 Mode Model N, 271 Appearance: [binary data] 272 r Status: Foreground, 273 Created: 5, Matched: 1, Last-Matched: 5 Fig. 2