More on weak feature: Self-correlate histogram distances

In object detection research, there is a discussion on weak feature and strong feature, feature descriptors, regardless of being considered as 'weak feature descriptors' or 'strong feature descriptors' does not necessarily imply detector performance unless combined with relevant classification algorithms. Since 2001, main stream object detection research projects have been following the Viola Jone's weak feature (Haar-like feature) and AdaBoost classifier approach. Until 2005, when Dalal and Triggs have created the approach of a strong feature (Histogram of Oriented Gradient) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) framework for human detection. This paper proposes an approach to improve the salience of a weak feature descriptor by using intra-feature correlation. Although the intensity histogram distance feature known as Histogram Distance of Haar Regions (HDHR) itself is considered as a weak feature and can only be used to construct a weak learner to learn an AdaBoost classifier. In our paper, we explore the pairwise correlations between each and every histograms constructed and a strong feature can then be formulated. With the newly constructed strong feature based on histogram distances, a SVM classifier can be trained and later used for classification tasks. Promising experimental results have been obtained.