US Patent 11004219 Vector-based object re-identification during image tracking

A system includes sensors and a tracking subsystem. The subsystem tracks a first object and one or more other objects in a space. After determining that re-identification of the first object is needed, candidate identifiers are determined for the first object The candidate identifiers include a subset of the identifiers of all tracked objects in the space. The subset includes possible identifiers of the first object based on a history of movements of the first object and interactions of the first object with the other objects in the space. Based on a top-view image, a first descriptor is determined for the first object. The first descriptor is associated with a characteristic of the first object. Based on results of comparing the first descriptor to a set of predetermined descriptors, an updated identifier is determined for the first object.