Patent US7167180B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US20040109587A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US20040109587A1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image recognition apparatus, image recognition processing method, and image recognition program
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 2003-09-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2023-09-12
Abstract
Abstract An image recognition apparatus, method and program capable of discriminatively recognizing an object at an enhanced recognition rate despite an increase in the total number of reference images registered in image databases. When any individual person or public corporation for example is to be specified from the object image obtained by shooting the person or the like, one image database of the attribute corresponding to various situations, or familiarity to the object image is selected automatically, and then the person or corporation is specified from the shot image while referring to the reference images stored in the image database of the selected attribute. Therefore, even if the sum of the reference images is increased, since they are subdivided and classified corresponding to the attributes, the number of the reference images for each attribute can be reduced, and further the image database of the optimal attribute can be selected automatically in conformity to the situation of recognition such as date, time and so on. Thus, the number of the reference images can be minimized without the user's intentional manipulation, and the reference images are narrowed down due to the additional information of the situation.
Inventors
- 👤 Machiko Segawa
- 👤 Hiroshi Goto
- 👤 Toshihiro Watanabe
- 👤 Zhao Wenwu
- 👤 Makoto Murata
- 👤 Keigo Ihara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 23:09
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/50; G06F16/58; G06V; G06V30/00; G06V30/10; G06V30/24; G06V30/242; G06V40/00; G06V40/10; G06V40/16; G06V40/172
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
1 . An image recognition apparatus comprising: shooting means for shooting an object image to be discriminatively recognized and identified; a plurality of attribute-classified image database means classified respectively in accordance with a plurality of attributes corresponding to various situations of the shooting performed by said shooting means, and storing therein reference images classified by the attributes and also storing recognition ID attached uniquely to the reference images respectively; selection means for selecting, from the plurality of attribute-classified image database means, one image database means of the attribute corresponding to the present situation of the face recognition; and object specifying means for specifying the recognition ID, which corresponds to the object image shot by said shooting means, with reference to the reference image stored in the attribute-classified image database means selected by said selection means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
1 . An image recognition apparatus comprising: shooting means for shooting an object image to be discriminatively recognized and identified; a plurality of attribute-classified image database means classified respectively in accordance with a plurality of attributes corresponding to various situations of the shooting performed by said shooting means, and storing therein reference images classified by the attributes and also storing recognition ID attached uniquely to the reference images respectively; selection means for selecting, from the plurality of attribute-classified image database means, one image database means of the attribute corresponding to the present situation of the face recognition; and object specifying means for specifying the recognition ID, which corresponds to the object image shot by said shooting means, with reference to the reference image stored in the attribute-classified image database means selected by said selection means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
83 words
2 . The image recognition apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising date-and-time count means for counting the present date and time; wherein said attribute-classified image database means are classified by attributes depending on the time shot by said shooting means; and said selection means automatically selects, on the basis of the present date and time counted by said date-and-time count means, one attribute-classified image database means corresponding to the present date and time from said plurality of attribute-classified image database means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
77 words
3 . The image recognition apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising position measuring means for measuring the present position, wherein said attribute-classified image database means are classified by attributes depending on the position shot by said shooting means; and said selection means automatically selects, on the basis of the present position measured by said position measuring means, one attribute-classified image database means corresponding to the present position from said plurality of attribute-classified image database means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
110 words
4 . The image recognition apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising date-and-time count means for counting the present date and time, and position measuring means for measuring the present position; wherein said attribute-classified image database means are classified by attributes depending on the time and the position shot by said shooting means; and said selection means automatically selects, on the basis of the present date and time counted by said date-and-time count means and also the present position measured by said position measuring means, one attribute-classified image database means corresponding to the present date and time and the present position from said plurality of attribute-classified image database means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
150 words
5 . The image recognition apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising estimation means for estimating familiarity to the object image on the basis of the occupancy area ratio of the object image to the entire region shot by said shooting means, or on the basis of the number of times of specifying the object image by said object specifying means in the past, or on the basis of a combination of said occupancy area ratio and said number of times; wherein said attribute-classified image database means are classified by attributes depending on the familiarity to the object image estimated by said estimation means; and said selection means automatically selects, on the basis of the familiarity estimated by said estimation means, one attribute-classified image database means corresponding to the familiarity to the object image shot by said shooting means at present, from said plurality of attribute-classified image database means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
125 words
6 . The image recognition apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising date-and-time count means for counting the present date and time, wherein said attribute-classified image database means are classified by attributes depending on the familiarity to the object image estimated by said estimation means, and also by attributes depending on the time shot by said shooting means; and said selection means automatically selects, on the basis of the familiarity estimated by said estimation means and the present date and time counted by said date-and-time count means, one attribute-classified image database means corresponding to the familiarity to the object image shot by said shooting means at present and also corresponding to the present date and time, from said plurality of attribute-classified image database means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
119 words
7 . The image recognition apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising position measuring means for measuring the present position, wherein said attribute-classified image database means are classified by attributes depending on the familiarity to the object image estimated by said estimation means, and also by attributes depending on the position shot by said shooting means; and said selection means automatically selects, on the basis of the familiarity estimated by said estimation means and the present position measured by said position measuring means, one attribute-classified image database means corresponding to the familiarity to the object image shot by said shooting means at present and also corresponding to the present position, from said plurality of attribute-classified image database means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
150 words
8 . The image recognition apparatus according to claim 5 , further comprising date-and-time count means for counting the present date and time, and position measuring means for measuring the present position; wherein said attribute-classified image database means are classified by attributes depending on the familiarity to the object image estimated by said estimation means, and also by attributes depending on the time and the position shot by said shooting means; and said selection means automatically selects, on the basis of the familiarity estimated by said estimation means, the present date and time counted by said date-and-time count means, and also the present position measured by said position measuring means, one attribute-classified image database means corresponding to the familiarity to the object image shot by said shooting means at present, the present date and time, and also corresponding to the present position, from said plurality of attribute-classified image database means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
121 words
9 . An image recognition processing method comprising: a selection step of selecting one attribute-classified image database corresponding to the present situation from a plurality of attribute-classified image databases classified respectively in accordance with a plurality of attributes corresponding to various situations of the shooting performed by a shooting means in respect of an object image to be discriminatively recognized and identified, and storing therein reference images classified by the attributes and also storing recognition ID attached uniquely to the reference images respectively; and an object specifying step of specifying the recognition ID, which corresponds to the object image shot by said shooting means, with reference to the reference image stored in the attribute-classified image database selected at said selection step.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
121 words
9 . An image recognition processing method comprising: a selection step of selecting one attribute-classified image database corresponding to the present situation from a plurality of attribute-classified image databases classified respectively in accordance with a plurality of attributes corresponding to various situations of the shooting performed by a shooting means in respect of an object image to be discriminatively recognized and identified, and storing therein reference images classified by the attributes and also storing recognition ID attached uniquely to the reference images respectively; and an object specifying step of specifying the recognition ID, which corresponds to the object image shot by said shooting means, with reference to the reference image stored in the attribute-classified image database selected at said selection step.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
10 . The image recognition processing method according to claim 9 , further comprising a date-and-time count step of counting the present date and time; wherein said attribute-classified image databases are classified by attributes depending on the time shot by said shooting means; and at said selection step, one attribute-classified image database corresponding to the present date and time is selected automatically from said plurality of attribute-classified image databases on the basis of the present date and time counted at said date-and-time count step.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
78 words
11 . The image recognition processing method according to claim 9 , further comprising a position measuring step of measuring the present position, wherein said attribute-classified image databases are classified by attributes depending on the position shot by said shooting means; and at said selection step, one attribute-classified image database corresponding to the present position is selected automatically from said plurality of attribute-classified image databases on the basis of the present position measured at said position measuring step.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
112 words
12 . The image recognition processing method according to claim 9 , further comprising a date-and-time count step of counting the present date and time, and a position measuring step of measuring the present position; wherein said attribute-classified image databases are classified by attributes depending on the time and the position shot by said shooting means; and at said selection step, one attribute-classified image database corresponding to the present date and time and the present position is selected automatically from said plurality of attribute-classified image databases on the basis of the present date and time counted by said date-and-time count step and also the present position measured by said position measuring step.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
151 words
13 . The image recognition processing method according to claim 9 , further comprising an estimation step of estimating familiarity to the object image on the basis of the occupancy area ratio of the object image to the entire region shot by said shooting means, or on the basis of the number of times of specifying the object image at said object specifying step in the past, or on the basis of a combination of said occupancy area ratio and said number of times; wherein said attribute-classified image databases are classified by attributes depending on the familiarity to the object image estimated at said estimation step; and at said selection step, one attribute-classified image database corresponding to the familiarity to the object image shot by said shooting means at present is selected automatically from said plurality of attribute-classified image databases on the basis of the familiarity estimated by said estimation means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
126 words
14 . The image recognition processing method according to claim 13 , further comprising a date-and-time count step of counting the present date and time, wherein said attribute-classified image databases are classified by attributes depending on the familiarity to the object image estimated by said estimation means, and also by attributes depending on the time shot by said shooting means; and at said selection step, one attribute-classified image database, which corresponds to the familiarity to the object image shot by said shooting means at present and also corresponds to the present date and time, is selected automatically from said plurality of attribute-classified databases on the basis of the familiarity estimated at said estimation step and the present date and time counted at said date-and-time count step.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
122 words
15 . The image recognition processing method according to claim 13 , further comprising a position measuring step of measuring the present position, wherein said attribute-classified image databases are classified by attributes depending on the familiarity to the object image estimated at by said estimation step, and also by attributes depending on the position shot by said shooting means; and at said selection step, one attribute-classified image database, which corresponds to the familiarity to the object image shot by said shooting means at present and also corresponds to the present position, is selected automatically from said plurality of attribute-classified image databases on the basis of the familiarity estimated at said estimation step and the present position measured at said position measuring step.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
153 words
16 . The image recognition processing method according to claim 13 , further comprising a date-and-time count step of counting the present date and time, and a position measuring step of measuring the present position; wherein said attribute-classified image databases are classified by attributes depending on the familiarity to the object image estimated by said estimation means, and also by attributes depending on the time and the position shot by said shooting means; and at said selection step, one attribute-classified image database, which corresponds to the familiarity to the object image shot by said shooting means at present, the present date and time, and also corresponds to the present position, is selected automatically from said plurality of attribute-classified image databases on the basis of the familiarity estimated at said estimation step, the present date and time counted at said date-and-time count step, and also the present position measured at said position measuring step.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
120 words
17 . An image recognition program comprising: a selection step of selecting one attribute-classified image database corresponding to the present situation from a plurality of attribute-classified image databases specified respectively in accordance with a plurality of attributes corresponding to various situations of the shooting performed by a shooting means in respect of an object image to be discriminatively recognized and identified, and storing therein reference images classified by the attributes and also storing recognition ID attached uniquely to the reference images respectively; and an object specifying step of specifying the recognition ID, which corresponds to the object image shot by said shooting means, with reference to the reference image stored in the attribute-classified image database selected at said selection step.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
120 words
17 . An image recognition program comprising: a selection step of selecting one attribute-classified image database corresponding to the present situation from a plurality of attribute-classified image databases specified respectively in accordance with a plurality of attributes corresponding to various situations of the shooting performed by a shooting means in respect of an object image to be discriminatively recognized and identified, and storing therein reference images classified by the attributes and also storing recognition ID attached uniquely to the reference images respectively; and an object specifying step of specifying the recognition ID, which corresponds to the object image shot by said shooting means, with reference to the reference image stored in the attribute-classified image database selected at said selection step.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
83 words
18 . The image recognition program according to claim 17 , further comprising a date-and-time count step of counting the present date and time; wherein said attribute-classified image databases are classified by attributes depending on the time shot by said shooting means; and at said selection step, one attribute-classified image database corresponding to the present date and time is selected automatically from said plurality of attribute-classified image databases on the basis of the present date and time counted at said date-and-time count step.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
77 words
19 . The image recognition program according to claim 17 , further comprising a position measuring step of measuring the present position, wherein said attribute-classified image databases are classified by attributes depending on the position shot by said shooting means; and at said selection step, one attribute-classified image database corresponding to the present position is selected automatically from said plurality of attribute-classified image databases on the basis of the present position measured at said position measuring step.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
111 words
20 . The image recognition program according to claim 17 , further comprising a date-and-time count step of counting the present date and time, and a position measuring step of measuring the present position; wherein said attribute-classified image databases are classified by attributes depending on the time and the position shot by said shooting means; and at said selection step, one attribute-classified image database corresponding to the present date and time and the present position is selected automatically from said plurality of attribute-classified image databases on the basis of the present date and time counted by said date-and-time count means and also the present position measured by said position measuring means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
150 words
21 . The image recognition program according to claim 17 , further comprising an estimation step of estimating familiarity to the object image on the basis of the occupancy area ratio of the object image to the entire region shot by said shooting means, or on the basis of the number of times of specifying the object image at said object specifying step in the past, or on the basis of a combination of said occupancy area ratio and said number of times; wherein said attribute-classified image databases are classified by attributes depending on the familiarity to the object image estimated at said estimation step; and at said selection step, one attribute-classified image database corresponding to the familiarity to the object image shot by said shooting means at present is selected automatically from said plurality of attribute-classified image databases on the basis of the familiarity estimated by said estimation means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
125 words
22 . The image recognition program according to claim 21 , further comprising a date-and-time count step of counting the present date and time, wherein said attribute-classified image databases are classified by attributes depending on the familiarity to the object image estimated by said estimation means, and also by attributes depending on the time shot by said shooting means; and at said selection step, one attribute-classified image database, which corresponds to the familiarity to the object image shot by said shooting means at present and also corresponds to the present date and time, is selected automatically from said plurality of attribute-classified databases on the basis of the familiarity estimated at said estimation step and the present date and time counted at said date-and-time count step.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
121 words
23 . The image recognition program according to claim 21 , further comprising a position measuring step of measuring the present position, wherein said attribute-classified image databases are classified by attributes depending on the familiarity to the object image estimated at by said estimation step, and also by attributes depending on the position shot by said shooting means; and at said selection step, one attribute-classified image database, which corresponds to the familiarity to the object image shot by said shooting means at present and also corresponds to the present position, is selected automatically from said plurality of attribute-classified image databases on the basis of the familiarity estimated at said estimation step and the present position measured at said position measuring step.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
153 words
24 . The image recognition processing method according to claim 21 , further comprising a date-and-time count step of counting the present date and time, and a position measuring step of measuring the present position; wherein said attribute-classified image databases are classified by attributes depending on the familiarity to the object image estimated by said estimation means, and also by attributes depending on the time and the position shot by said shooting means; and at said selection step, one attribute-classified image database, which corresponds to the familiarity to the object image shot by said shooting means at present, the present date and time, and also corresponds to the present position, is selected automatically from said plurality of attribute-classified image databases on the basis of the familiarity estimated at said estimation step, the present date and time counted at said date-and-time count step, and also the present position measured at said position measuring step.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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