Computer Vision System Toolbox

Stream Processing in MATLAB and Simulink

Computer Vision System Toolbox supports a stream processing architecture in both MATLAB and Simulink. In a stream processing architecture, one or more video frames from a continuous stream are processed at a time. This type of processing is appropriate for analysis of large video files or systems with live video.

In MATLAB, stream processing is enabled by System objects, which use MATLAB objects to represent time-based and data-driven algorithms, sources, and sinks. System objects implicitly manage many details of stream processing, such as data indexing, buffering, and the management of algorithm state. You can mix System objects with standard MATLAB functions and operators. Most System objects have corresponding Simulink blocks that provide the same capabilities.

Simulink handles stream processing implicitly by managing the flow of data through the blocks that make up a Simulink model. It includes a library of general-purpose, predefined blocks to represent algorithms, sources, sinks, and system hierarchy. Computer Vision System Toolbox provides a library of blocks specifically for the design of computer vision and video processing systems.

An abandoned object detection model (top). The three viewers (bottom) show the process of detecting and tracking an abandoned object in a live video stream from a camera in a train station.