Video object segmentation has important application in content-based video encoding and video retrieval. In this paper

a new approach based on temporal and spatial union information is proposed. In spatial domain

morphological operators such as morphological filters

morphological gradient operator and watershed algorithm are used

morphological filters are used to simplify the image

morphological gradient is used to mark homogeneous regions

the watershed operator is used to decide spatial boundaries. In temporal segmentation domain

the initial change detection mask is gotten by using F-test

then by combining it with the result of spatial segmentation

the final result is gotten. The procedure toward complete segmentation consists of the following main steps; global motion estimation and compensation (if exist background motion)

change detection

marker extraction

watershed transfer

temporal and spatio information fusion. The experimental result shows the effectiveness of the method: it can separate the foreground from still or motion

simple or complex background satisfactorily

preferably locate and segment the video object.