FollowMe: Efficient Online Min-Cost Flow Tracking with Bounded Memory and Computation

One of the most popular approaches to multi-target tracking is tracking-by-detection. Current min-cost flow algorithms which solve the data association problem optimally have three main drawbacks: they are computationally expensive, they assume that the whole video is given as a batch, and they scale badly in memory and computation with the length of the video sequence. In this paper, we address each of these issues, resulting in a computationally and memory-bounded solution. First, we introduce a dynamic version of the successive shortest-path algorithm which solves the data association problem optimally while reusing computation, resulting in significantly faster inference than standard solvers. Second, we address the optimal solution to the data association problem when dealing with an incoming stream of data (i.e., online setting). Finally, we present our main contribution which is an approximate online solution with bounded memory and computation which is capable of handling videos of arbitrarily length while performing tracking in real time. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our algorithms on the KITTI and PETS2009 benchmarks and show state-of-the-art performance, while being significantly faster than existing solvers

Bone substitute effect on vascularization and bone remodeling after application of phVEGF165 transfected BMSC

VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) promotes vascularization and remodeling of bone substitutes. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of distinct resorbable ceramic carriers on bone forming capacities of VEGF transfected bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC). A critical size defect of the radius in rabbits was filled either by a low surface scaffold called beta-TCP (tricalciumphsphate) or the high surface scaffold CDHA (calcium deficient hydroxy-apatite) loaded with autologous BMSC, which were either transfected with a control plasmid or a plasmid coding for phVEGF165. They were compared to unloaded scaffolds. Thus, six treatment groups (n = 6 in each group) were followed by X-ray over 16 weeks. After probe retrieval, the volume of new bone was measured by micro-CT scans and vascularization was assessed in histology. While only minor bone formation was found in both carriers when implanted alone, BMSC led to increased osteogenesis in both carriers. VEGF promoted vascularization of the scaffolds significantly in contrast to BMSC alone. Bone formation was increased in the beta-TCP group, whereas it was inhibited in the CDHA group that showed faster scaffold degradation. The results indicate that the interaction of VEGF transfected BMSC with resorbable ceramic carrier influences the ability to promote bone healing

Optimierung von Geschäftsprozessen mithilfe mobiler Endgeräte und unter Berücksichtigung der zur Verfügung stehenden Sensoren

Ziel der Arbeit ist es, einen weitreichenden Überblick über einige auf mobilen Endgeräten verfügbare physische Sensoren zu geben und ihre Verwendung zur Bestimmung des Kontexts eines Benutzers aufzuzeigen. Der Schwerpunkt vorgestellter physischer Sensoren wird auf denen liegen, die zur Positionsbestimmung des Benutzers herangezogen werden können. Darauf aufbauend werden Szenarien und Geschäftsprozessen erläutert, die durch den Einsatz mobiler Sensorik optimiert und automatisiert werden. Das Ziel, einen tiefen Einblick in die Kombination von Geschäftsprozessen mit Geschäftsanwendungen und mobiler Sensorik zu geben, wird durch die Implementierung eines Krankenhaus-Prozesses erreicht. Anhand des Prozesses und seiner Implementierung soll dargestellt werden, wie unter Verwendung von Bluetooth LE, Apples iOS, einer Serverarchitektur und zusätzlichen Komponenten eine Context Aware Application Geschäftsprozesse optimieren und automatisieren kann. Das resultierende Softwaresystem soll beispielsweise das Auffinden und Einsehen von Patientenakten und Aufgabenübersichten anhand von Kontexten optimieren, die durch die momentane Position eines Benutzers und seiner Zugehörigkeit zu einer Organisationseinheit bestimmt werden. Auch fehlerhafte Patientenverlegungen sollen durch die Anwendung verhindert und Medikamentenbestände einzelner Medikamente automatisiert dokumentiert und aktualisiert werden. Für die Umsetzung einer solchen Geschäftsanwendung wird das Ziel gesetzt, eine geeignete Systemarchitektur zu erarbeiten, Sensoren und ihre Daten zu untersuchen, Schnittstellen bereitzuhalten und einen geeigneten Einsatz mobiler Sensorik zu finden

Engineering an Advanced Location-Based Augmented Reality Engine for Smart Mobile Devices

Daily business routines more and more require to access information systems in a mobile manner, while preserving a desktop-like feeling at the same time. The goal of this work is to outline the engineering process of a sophisticated mobile service running on a smartphone. More precisely, we show how to develop the core of a location-based augmented reality engine for the iPhone 4S based on the operating system iOS 5.1 (or higher). We denote this engine as AREA. In particular, we develop concepts for coping with limited resources on a mobile device, while providing a smooth user augmented reality experience at the same time. We further present and develop a suitable application architecture in this context, which easily allows integrating augmented reality with a wide range of applications

The AREA Framework for Location-Based Smart Mobile Augmented Reality Applications

During the last years, the computational capabilities of smart mobile devices have been continuously improved by hardware vendors, raising new opportunities for mobile application engineers. Mobile augmented reality can be considered as one demanding scenario demonstrating that smart mobile applications are becoming more and more mature. In the AREA (Augmented Reality Engine Application) project, we developed a powerful kernel that enables location-based, mobile augmented reality applications. On top of this kernel, mobile application developers can realize sophisticated individual applications. The AREA kernel, in turn, allows for both robustness and high performance. In addition, it provides a flexible architecture that fosters the development of individual location-based mobile augmented reality applications. As a particular feature, the kernel allows for the handling of points of interests (POI) clusters. Altogether, advanced concepts are required to realize a location-based mobile augmented reality kernel that are presented in this paper. Furthermore, results of an experiment are presented in which the AREA kernel was compared to other location-based mobile augmented reality applications. To demonstrate the applicability of the kernel, we apply it in the context of various mobile applications. As a lesson learned, sophisticated mobile augmented reality applications can be efficiently run on present mobile operating systems and be effectively realized by engineers using the AREA framework. We consider mobile augmented reality as a killer application for mobile computational capabilities as well as the proper support of mobile users in everyday life

The AREA Algorithm Framework Enabling Location-based Mobile Augmented Reality Applications

The dramatically increased computational capabilities of mobile devices have leveraged the opportunities for mobile application engineers. Respective scenarios, in which these opportunities can be exploited, emerge almost per day. In this context, mobile augmented reality applications play an important role in many business scenarios. In the automotive domain, they are mainly used to provide car customers with new experiences. For example, customers can use their own mobile device to experience the interior of a car by moving the mobile device around. The device’s camera then detects interior parts and shows additional information to the customer within the camera view. Although the computational capabilities have been increased, the realization of such mobile augmented reality applications is still a complex endeavor. In particular, the different mobile operating systems and their peculiarities must be carefully considered. In the AREA (Augmented Reality Engine Application) project, a powerful kernel was realized that enables location-based mobile augmented reality applications. This kernel, in turn, mainly focuses on robustness and performance. In addition, it provides a flexible architecture that fosters the development of individual location-based mobile augmented reality applications. As many aspects have to be considered to implement individual applications based on top of AREA, this paper provides the first comprehensive overview of the entire algorithm framework. Moreover, a recently realized algorithm and new features will be presented. To demonstrate the applicability of the kernel, its features are applied in the context of various mobile applications. As the major lesson learned, powerful mobile augmented reality applications can be efficiently run on present mobile operating systems and be effectively realized by engineers using AREA. We consider such mobile frameworks as being crucial to provide more generic concepts that are able to abstract from the peculiarities of the underlying mobile operating system and to support mobile application developers more properly

Location-based Mobile Augmented Reality Applications: Challenges, Examples, Lessons Learned

The technical capabilities of modern smart mobile devices more and more enable us to run desktop-like applications with demanding resource requirements in mobile environments. Along this trend, numerous concepts, techniques, and prototypes have been introduced, focusing on basic implementation issues of mobile applications. However, only little work exists that deals with the design and implementation (i.e., the engineering) of advanced smart mobile applications and reports on the lessons learned in this context. In this paper, we give profound insights into the design and implementation of such an advanced mobile application, which enables location-based mobile augmented reality on two different mobile operating systems (i.e., iOS and Android). In particular, this kind of mobile application is characterized by high resource demands since various sensors must be queried at run time and numerous virtual objects may have to be drawn in realtime on the screen of the smart mobile device (i.e., a high frame count per second be caused). We focus on the efficient implementation of a robust mobile augmented reality engine, which provides location-based functionality, as well as the implementation of mobile business applications based on this engine. In the latter context, we also discuss the lessons learned when implementing mobile business applications with our mobile augmented reality engine

Advanced Algorithms for Location-Based Smart Mobile Augmented Reality Applications

During the last years, the computational capabilities of smart mobile devices have been continuously improved by hardware vendors, raising new opportunities for mobile application engineers. Mobile augmented reality is one scenario demonstrating that smart mobile applications are becoming increasingly mature. In the AREA (Augmented Reality Engine Application) project, we developed a kernel that enables such location-based mobile augmented reality applications. On top of the kernel, mobile application developers can easily realize their individual applications. The kernel, in turn, focuses on robustness and high performance. In addition, it provides a flexible architecture that fosters the development of individual location-based mobile augmented reality applications. In the first stage of the project, the LocationView concept was developed as the core for realizing the kernel algorithms. This LocationView concept has proven its usefulness in the context of various applications, running on iOS, Android, or Windows Phone. Due to the further evolution of computational capabilities on one hand and emerging demands of location-based mobile applications on the other, we developed a new kernel concept. In particular, the new kernel allows for handling points of interests (POI) clusters or enables the use of tracks. These changes required new concepts presented in this paper. To demonstrate the applicability of our kernel, we apply it in the context of various mobile applications. As a result, mobile augmented reality applications could be run on present mobile operating systems and be effectively realized by engineers utilizing our approach. We regard such applications as a good example for using mobile computational capabilities efficiently in order to support mobile users in everyday life more properly