A
system and method for
processing acquired images to develop useful classifications of subjects such as occupants of a vehicle preferably employs a hierarchical and probabilistic structure, such as a
Bayesian Network to analyze acquired images and produce a meaningful classification. The structure preferably includes set of analyzers, a set of
Scenario analyzers and a set of
Temporal models which are arranged in three respective hierarchical
layers. Each respective analyzer operates on the acquired image and, in some circumstances, feedback from the
Scenario analyzers, to produce an output representing the probability that a feature that the respective analyzer is concerned with is present in the acquired image. Each respective
Scenario analyzer receives output probabilities from at least one of the analyzers and, in some circumstances, feedback from the
Temporal Models, to produce an output indicating the probability that a
scenario that the respective Scenario analyzer is concerned with, is the
scenario captured in the acquired image. Each respective Scenario analyzer can also provide feedback inputs to one or more analyzers to alter their operation. Finally, each respective Temporal Model receives and operates on the output from at least one Scenario analyzer to produce a probability that a classification with which the Temporal Model is concerned is represented by the acquired image. Each respective Temporal Model can also provide feedback inputs to one or more Scenario analyzers to alter their operation. The structure processes the classification probabilities output from the
Temporal Models to produce a classification for the acquired image.