Individual identification apparatus for selectively recording a reference pattern based on a correlation with comparative patterns

Claim 2

An individual identification apparatus for judging whether or not an arbitrary individual is a specific individual, the apparatus comprising: reference pattern storage judging means for calculating a correlation between a reference pattern candidate representative of a specific individual, which is desired to be newly recorded as a reference pattern, and at least one comparative pattern representative of another person, thereby judging whether or not to record the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern based on the calculated correlation; reference pattern storage means for recording the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern when the reference pattern storage judging means determines to record the reference pattern candidate and for refusing to record the reference pattern candidate when the reference pattern storage judging means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate; comparing means for comparing a target pattern representative of an arbitrary individual with the reference pattern of the specific individual, thereby judging whether or not the arbitrary individual is the specific individual; wherein said reference pattern storage means comprises: recording means for recording the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern when the reference pattern storage judging means determines to record the reference pattern candidate; and recording refusing means for refusing to record the reference pattern candidate when the reference pattern storage judging means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate, the recording refusing means including control means for performing storage control operation onto the reference pattern candidate; reference image pick up means for picking up the reference pattern candidate representing the specific individual; and arbitrary image pick up means for picking up the target pattern representing the arbitrary individual; and wherein the control means includes retrial control means for controlling the reference image pick up means to pick up another reference pattern candidate representing the specific individual and for controlling the reference pattern storage judging means to calculate a correlation between the presently-picked up reference pattern candidate and at least one comparative pattern, thereby judging whether or not to record the presently-picked up reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern based on the calculated correlation.

Claim 3

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reference pattern storage judging means determines to record the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern when the calculated correlation value is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold value.

Claim 4

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reference pattern storage judging means performs a masking operation on the reference pattern candidate when the correlation between the candidate and the comparative pattern exceeds the threshold, so that the correlation is changed to be equal to or lower than the threshold.

Claim 5

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reference pattern storage judging means calculates a plurality of correlation values between the reference pattern candidate and a plurality of comparative patterns, and determines to record the reference pattern candidate based on the calculated correlation values.

Claim 6

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the reference pattern storage judging means determines to record the reference pattern candidate only when a maximum value of the correlation values is equal to or lower than the threshold value.

Claim 7

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the comparative patterns are selected from patterns representing a plurality of people that present cross-correlations of values equal to or higher than a predetermined standard value at a frequency equal to or higher than a predetermined frequency.

Claim 8

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the comparative pattern presents cross-correlations, with regards to patterns representing other people, of values equal to or higher than a predetermined standard value, at a frequency equal to or higher than a predetermined frequency.

Claim 9

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the comparative pattern includes a reference pattern already recorded for a first person other than the specific individual.

Claim 10

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the reference pattern storage means replaces the reference pattern for the first person with an auxiliary pattern belonging to the same first person when the reference pattern storing judging means judges not to record the reference pattern candidate of the specific individual based on a calculated correlation between the reference pattern candidate of the specific individual and the reference pattern of the first person.

Claim 11

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reference image pick up means picks up an image of a predetermined body portion of the specific individual and produces the reference pattern candidate, wherein the reference pattern storage judging means calculates a correlation between the specific individual's reference pattern candidate and at least one comparative pattern of the predetermined body portion of the other person, thereby judging whether or not to record the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern based on the calculated correlation, and wherein the arbitrary image pick up means picks up an image of the predetermined body portion of the arbitrary individual and produces the target pattern.

Claim 12

An individual identification as claimed in claim 10, wherein the predetermined portion is a finger, and the reference pattern candidate indicates a fingerprint of the specific individual.

Claim 13

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reference pattern storage judging means includes: Fourier transforming means for performing a Fourier transform on the reference pattern candidate and at least one comparative pattern; multiplying means for multiplying the Fourier transforms with each other; inverse Fourier transforming means for performing an inverse Fourier transform on the multiplied result to thereby obtain a correlation output; and judging means for judging, based on the correlation output, whether or not to record the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern.

Claim 14

An individual identification apparatus for determining whether or not an arbitrary individual is a specific individual, the apparatus comprising: reference candidate reception means for receiving a predetermined pattern representative of a specific individual as a reference pattern candidate; comparative pattern storage means for storing at least one corresponding comparative pattern representative of at least one individual other than the specific individual as a comparative pattern; first correlation calculating means for calculating a correlation between the reference pattern candidate and the comparative pattern through performing a Fourier transform on the reference pattern candidate and the comparative pattern, multiplying the Fourier transforms with each other, and performing an inverse Fourier transform on the multiplied result to obtain a correlation, thereby determining, based on the correlation, whether or not to record the reference pattern candidate as a reference pattern; reference storage means for storing the reference pattern candidate as a reference pattern when the first correlation calculating means determines to record the reference pattern candidate and for refusing to store the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern and performing a reference storage control operation when the first correlation calculating means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate; target reception means for receiving, as a target pattern, a corresponding pattern representative of an arbitrary individual desired to be identified as the specific individual; and second correlation calculating means for calculating a correlation between the target pattern and the reference pattern through performing a Fourier transform on the target pattern and the reference pattern, multiplying the Fourier transforms with each other, and performing an inverse Fourier transform on the multiplied result to obtain a correlation, thereby judging, based on the calculated correlation, whether or not the arbitrary person is the specific individual.

Claim 15

An individual identification apparatus for determining whether or not an arbitrary individual is a specific individual, the apparatus comprising: reference candidate reception means for receiving a predetermined pattern representative of a specific individual as a reference pattern candidate; comparative pattern storage means for storing at least one corresponding comparative pattern representative of at least one individual other than the specific individual as a comparative pattern; first correlation calculating means for calculating a correlation between the reference pattern candidate and the comparative pattern through performing a Fourier transform on the reference pattern candidate and the comparative pattern, multiplying the Fourier transforms with each other, and performing an inverse Fourier transform on the multiplied result to obtain a correlation, thereby determining, based on the correlation, whether or not to record the reference pattern candidate as a reference pattern; reference storage means for storing the reference pattern candidate as a reference pattern when the first correlation calculating means determines to record the reference pattern candidate and for refusing to store the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern and performing a reference storage control operation when the first correlation calculating means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate; target reception means for receiving, as a target pattern, a corresponding pattern representative of an arbitrary individual desired to be identified as the specific individual; and second correlation calculating means for calculating a correlation between the target pattern and the reference pattern through performing a Fourier transform on the target pattern and the reference pattern, multiplying the Fourier transforms with each other, and performing an inverse Fourier transform on the multiplied result to obtain a correlation, thereby judging, based on the calculated correlation, whether or not the arbitrary person is the specific individual.

Claim 16

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the reference candidate reception means receives an image of a predetermined body portion of the specific individual as the reference pattern candidate, the comparative pattern storage means storing at least one corresponding image of the predetermined body portion of at least one individual other than the specific individual as the comparative pattern, the target reception means receiving, as the target pattern, a corresponding image of the predetermined body portion of the arbitrary individual.

Claim 17

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the predetermined body portion is a finger.

Claim 18

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the reference storage means includes retrial control means for, when the reference first correlation calculating means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate indicative of a certain finger of the specific individual, controlling the reference candidate reception means to receive a pattern of another finger of the specific individual as another reference pattern candidate, and for controlling the first correlation calculating means to calculate a correlation between the other reference pattern candidate and at least one comparative pattern, to thereby judge whether or not to record the other reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern based on the calculated correlation.

Claim 19

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the reference storage means includes modifying means for, when the first correlation calculating means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate, modifying the reference pattern candidate and for storing the modified reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern.

Claim 20

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the modifying means includes masking means for performing a masking operation on the reference pattern candidate when the first correlation calculating means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate as a reference pattern, the masking operation decreasing the correlation value, the reference storage means recording the thus masking-subjected reference pattern candidate.

Claim 21

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the first correlation calculating means determines to record the reference pattern candidate as a reference pattern only when the correlation is equal to or lower than a predetermined threshold.

Claim 22

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein the comparative pattern storage means stores a plurality of comparative patterns representative of a plurality of individuals other than the specific individual, and wherein the first correlation calculating means calculates a plurality of correlation values between the reference pattern candidate and the plurality of comparative patterns, thereby determining whether or not to record the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern.

Claim 23

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the first correlation calculating means determines to record the reference pattern candidate as a reference pattern only when a maximum value of the plurality of correlation values is equal to or lower than the threshold value.

Claim 24

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 21, further comprising masking means for performing a masking operation on the reference pattern candidate when the first correlation calculating means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate as a reference pattern because the maximum correlation value between the reference pattern candidate and the comparative patterns exceeds the threshold, the masking operation decreasing the maximum correlation value to be equal to or lower than the threshold, the reference storage means recording the thus masking-subjected reference pattern candidate.

Claim 25

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the plurality of comparative patterns include a plurality of patterns representative of a plurality of individuals, each of which presents high cross-correlations with other individuals' patterns.

Claim 26

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein each comparative pattern presents cross-correlations, with regards to other individuals' patterns, of values equal to or higher than a predetermined standard value at a frequency equal to or higher than a predetermined frequency.

Claim 27

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one comparative pattern includes at least one reference pattern already recorded for at least one person other than the specific person.

Claim 28

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the reference candidate reception means receives a plurality of the predetermined patterns representative of a first specific individual, the reference storage means storing one of the patterns as a first reference pattern and other remaining patterns as auxiliary patterns, wherein when the reference reception means receives, as a second reference pattern candidate, the predetermined pattern of a second specific individual other than the first specific individual, the first correlation calculating means calculates a correlation between the second reference pattern candidate and the first reference pattern, the reference storage means replacing the first reference pattern with one of the auxiliary patterns when the calculated correlation is higher than the predetermined threshold.

Claim 29

An individual identification apparatus for judging whether or not an arbitrary individual is a specific individual, the apparatus comprising: correlation calculation means capable of calculating a correlation between two patterns through performing a Fourier transform on two patterns, multiplying the Fourier transforms with each other, and performing an inverse Fourier transform on the multiplied result to thereby obtain a correlation; reference candidate reception means for receiving a predetermined pattern of a specific individual as a reference pattern candidate; reference storage judging means for controlling the correlation calculating means to calculate a correlation between the reference pattern candidate and a comparative pattern, thereby determining whether or not to record the reference pattern candidate, the comparative pattern including a corresponding pattern of an individual other than the specific individual; reference storage means for recording the reference pattern candidate as a reference pattern when the reference storage judging means determines to record the reference pattern candidate and for refusing to record the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern when the reference storage judging means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate; target reception means for receiving a target pattern of an arbitrary individual desired to be identified as the specific individual; and identification judging means for controlling the correlation calculating means to calculate a correlation between the target pattern and the reference pattern, thereby judging whether or not the arbitrary person is the specific individual.

Claim 30

An individual identification apparatus for judging whether or not an arbitrary individual is a specific individual, the apparatus comprising: correlation calculation means capable of calculating a correlation between two patterns through performing a Fourier transform on two patterns, multiplying the Fourier transforms with each other, and performing an inverse Fourier transform on the multiplied result to thereby obtain a correlation; reference candidate reception means for receiving a predetermined pattern of a specific individual as a reference pattern candidate; reference storage judging means for controlling the correlation calculating means to calculate a correlation between the reference pattern candidate and a comparative pattern, thereby determining whether or not to record the reference pattern candidate, the comparative pattern including a corresponding pattern of an individual other than the specific individual; reference storage means for recording the reference pattern candidate as a reference pattern when the reference storage judging means determines to record the reference pattern candidate and for refusing to record the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern when the reference storage judging means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate; target reception means for receiving a target pattern of an arbitrary individual desired to be identified as the specific individual; and identification judging means for controlling the correlation calculating means to calculate a correlation between the target pattern and the reference pattern, thereby judging whether or not the arbitrary person is the specific individual.

Claim 31

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 27, wherein the reference storage means includes: recording means for recording the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern when the reference pattern storage judging means determines to record the reference pattern candidate; recording refusing means for refusing to record the reference pattern candidate when the reference storage judging means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate, the recording refusing means including retrial control means for controlling the reference candidate reception means to receive another pattern of the specific individual as another reference pattern candidate and for controlling the reference storage judging means to actuate the correlation calculation means to calculate a correlation between the other reference pattern candidate and the comparative pattern, thereby judging whether or not to record the other reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern based on the calculated correlation.

Claim 32

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the reference storage means includes: recording means for recording the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern when the reference pattern storage judging means determines to record the reference pattern candidate; and recording refusing means for refusing to record the reference pattern candidate when the reference storage judging means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate, the recording refusing means including modification control means for modifying the reference pattern candidate and for recording the modified reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern.

Claim 33

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the reference candidate reception means receives an image of a predetermined body portion of the specific individual as the reference pattern candidate, the target reception means receiving, as the target pattern, a corresponding image of the predetermined body portion of the arbitrary individual; further comprising comparative pattern storage means for storing a corresponding image of the predetermined body portion of at least one individual other than the specific individual as the comparative pattern.

Claim 34

An individual identification apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the predetermined body portion is a finger.

Claim 37

A method as claimed in claim 32, wherein the comparative pattern includes a reference pattern already recorded for a first person other than the specific individual.

Claim 38

A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein the storage control process performing step includes the step of replacing the recorded reference pattern, belonging to the first person, with an auxiliary pattern belonging to the same first person when the correlation calculating step determines not to record the reference pattern candidate of the specific person based on a calculated correlation, between the reference pattern candidate of the specific person and the recorded reference pattern of the first person.

Claim 39

A method as claimed in claim 32, wherein the correlation calculation step includes the steps of: performing a Fourier transform on the reference pattern candidate and the comparative pattern; multiplying the Fourier transforms with each other; performing an inverse Fourier transform on the multiplied result to thereby obtain a correlation output; and judging means for judging, based on the correlation output, whether or not to record the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern.

Claim 40

A method as claimed in claim 35, wherein the reference pattern candidate is determined as the reference pattern only when the calculated correlation is equal to lower than a predetermined threshold.

Claim 41

A method as claimed in claim 35, wherein a plurality of correlations are calculated between the reference pattern candidate and a plurality of comparative patterns, whether or not to record the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern being determined based on the calculated correlations.

Claim 42

A method as claimed in claim 37, wherein the characteristic pattern candidate is determined to be recorded as the reference pattern only when a maximum value of the plurality of correlation values is equal to or lower than the threshold value.

Claim 43

A method as claimed in claim 37, wherein the comparative patterns are selected from a plurality of people's patterns that present cross-correlations of values equal to or higher than a predetermined standard value at a frequency equal to or higher than a predetermined frequency.

Claim 44

A method as claimed in claim 32, wherein the reference candidate reception step includes the step of picking up an image of a predetermined body portion of the specific individual as the reference pattern candidate, and wherein the target pattern reception step includes the step of picking up, as the target pattern, a corresponding image of the predetermined body portion of the arbitrary individual.

Claim 45

A method as claimed in claim 40, wherein the predetermined body portion is a finger.

Claim 48

A method as claimed in claim 42, wherein the modifying step includes the step of performing a masking operation on the reference pattern candidate when the reference pattern candidate is determined not to be recorded, the masking operation decreasing the correlation value, the thus masking-subjected reference pattern candidate being recorded as the reference pattern.

Claim 49

An individual identification apparatus for judging whether or not an arbitrary individual is a specific individual, the apparatus comprising: reference image pick up means for picking up a reference pattern candidate representative of a specific individual, which is desired to be newly recorded as a reference pattern; reference pattern storage judging means for calculating a correlation between the reference pattern candidate and at least one comparative pattern representative of another person, thereby judging whether or not to record the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern based on the calculated correlation; reference pattern storage means for recording the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern when the reference pattern storage judging means determines to record the reference pattern candidate and for refusing to record the reference pattern candidate when the reference pattern storage judging means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate; arbitrary image pick up means for picking up a target pattern representative of an arbitrary individual; comparing means for comparing the target pattern with the reference pattern of the specific individual, thereby judging whether or not the arbitrary individual is the specific individual; wherein the reference pattern storage means comprises: recording means for recording the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern when the reference pattern storage judging means determines to record the reference pattern candidate; and recording refusing means for refusing to record the reference pattern candidate when the reference pattern storage judging means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate, the recording refusing means including control means for performing storage control operation onto the reference pattern candidate; wherein the control means includes modification control means for modifying the reference pattern candidate and for recording the modified reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern.

Claim 50

An individual identification apparatus for judging whether or not an arbitrary individual is a specific individual, the apparatus comprising: reference image pick up means for picking up a reference pattern candidate representative of a specific individual, which is desired to be newly recorded as a reference pattern; reference pattern storage judging means for calculating a correlation between the reference pattern candidate and at least one comparative pattern representative of another person, thereby judging whether or not to record the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern based on the calculated correlation; reference pattern storage means for recording the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern when the reference pattern storage judging means determines to record the reference pattern candidate and for refusing to record the reference pattern candidate when the reference pattern storage judging means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate; arbitrary image pick up means for picking up a target pattern representative of an arbitrary individual; comparing means for comparing the target pattern with the reference pattern of the specific individual, thereby judging whether or not the arbitrary individual is the specific individual; wherein the reference pattern storage means comprises: recording means for recording the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern when the reference pattern storage judging means determines to record the reference pattern candidate; and recording refusing means for refusing to record the reference pattern candidate when the reference pattern storage judging means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate, the recording refusing means including control means for performing storage control operation onto the reference pattern candidate; wherein the control means includes modification control means for modifying the reference pattern candidate and for recording the modified reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern.

Claim 51

An individual identification apparatus for judging whether or not an arbitrary individual is a specific individual, the apparatus comprising: an image pick up portion for picking up a reference pattern candidate representing a specific individual, which is desired to be newly recorded as a reference pattern, and picking up a target pattern representing an arbitrary individual; and a control portion, comprising: reference pattern storage judging means for calculating a correlation between the reference pattern candidate representative of the specific individual and at least one comparative pattern representative of another person, thereby judging whether or not to record the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern based on the calculated correlation; reference pattern storage means for recording the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern when the reference pattern storage judging means determines to record the reference pattern candidate and for refusing to record the reference pattern candidate when the reference pattern storage judging means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate; and comparing means for comparing the target pattern representative of the arbitrary individual with the reference pattern of the specific individual, thereby judging whether or not the arbitrary individual is the specific individual; wherein said reference pattern storage means comprises: recording means for recording the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern when the reference pattern storage judging means determines to record the reference pattern candidate; and recording refusing means for refusing to record the reference pattern candidate when the reference pattern storage judging means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate, the recording refusing means including control means for performing storage control operation onto the reference pattern candidate; wherein the control means includes retrial control means for controlling the image pick up portion to pick up another reference pattern candidate representing the specific individual and for controlling the reference pattern storage judging means to calculate a correlation between the presently-picked up reference pattern candidate and the at least one comparative pattern thereby judging whether or not to record the presently-picked up reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern based on the calculated correlation.

Claim 52

An individual identification apparatus for judging whether or not an arbitrary individual is a specific individual, the apparatus comprising: an image pick up portion for picking up a reference pattern candidate representing a specific individual, which is desired to be newly recorded as a reference pattern, and picking up a target pattern representing an arbitrary individual; and a control portion, comprising: reference pattern storage judging means for calculating a correlation between the reference pattern candidate representative of the specific individual and at least one comparative pattern representative of another person, thereby judging whether or not to record the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern based on the calculated correlation; reference pattern storage means for recording the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern when the reference pattern storage judging means determines to record the reference pattern candidate and for refusing to record the reference pattern candidate when the reference pattern storage judging means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate; and comparing means for comparing the target pattern representative of the arbitrary individual with the reference pattern of the specific individual, thereby judging whether or not the arbitrary individual is the specific individual; wherein said reference pattern storage means comprises: recording means for recording the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern when the reference pattern storage judging means determines to record the reference pattern candidate; and recording refusing means for refusing to record the reference pattern candidate when the reference pattern storage judging means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate, the recording refusing means including control means for performing storage control operation onto the reference pattern candidate; wherein the control means includes retrial control means for controlling the image pick up portion to pick up another reference pattern candidate representing the specific individual and for controlling the reference pattern storage judging means to calculate a correlation between the presently-picked up reference pattern candidate and the at least one comparative pattern thereby judging whether or not to record the presently-picked up reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern based on the calculated correlation.

Claim 53

An individual identification apparatus for judging whether or not an arbitrary individual is a specific individual, the apparatus comprising: an image pick up portion for picking up a reference pattern candidate representing a specific individual, which is desired to be newly recorded as a reference pattern, and picking tip a target pattern representing an arbitrary individual; and a control portion, comprising: reference pattern storage judging means for calculating a correlation between the reference pattern candidate representative of the specific individual and at least one comparative pattern representative of another person, thereby judging whether or not to record the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern based on the calculated correlation; reference pattern storage means for recording the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern when the reference pattern storage judging means determines to record the reference pattern candidate and for refusing to record the reference pattern candidate when the reference pattern storage judging means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate; and comparing means for comparing the target pattern representative of the arbitrary individual with the reference pattern of the specific individual, thereby judging whether or not the arbitrary individual is the specific individual; wherein said reference pattern storage means comprises: recording means for recording the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern when the reference pattern storage judging means determines to record the reference pattern candidate; and recording refusing means for refusing to record the reference pattern candidate when the reference pattern storage judging means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate, the recording refusing means including control means for performing storage control operation onto the reference pattern candidate; wherein the control means includes modification control means for modifying the reference pattern candidate and for recording the modified reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern.

Claim 54

An individual identification apparatus for judging whether or not an arbitrary individual is a specific individual, the apparatus comprising: an image pick up portion for picking up a reference pattern candidate representing a specific individual, which is desired to be newly recorded as a reference pattern, and picking tip a target pattern representing an arbitrary individual; and a control portion, comprising: reference pattern storage judging means for calculating a correlation between the reference pattern candidate representative of the specific individual and at least one comparative pattern representative of another person, thereby judging whether or not to record the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern based on the calculated correlation; reference pattern storage means for recording the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern when the reference pattern storage judging means determines to record the reference pattern candidate and for refusing to record the reference pattern candidate when the reference pattern storage judging means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate; and comparing means for comparing the target pattern representative of the arbitrary individual with the reference pattern of the specific individual, thereby judging whether or not the arbitrary individual is the specific individual; wherein said reference pattern storage means comprises: recording means for recording the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern when the reference pattern storage judging means determines to record the reference pattern candidate; and recording refusing means for refusing to record the reference pattern candidate when the reference pattern storage judging means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate, the recording refusing means including control means for performing storage control operation onto the reference pattern candidate; wherein the control means includes modification control means for modifying the reference pattern candidate and for recording the modified reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern.

Claim 55

An individual identification apparatus for determining whether or not an arbitrary individual is a specific individual, the apparatus comprising: a reception portion for receiving, as a reference pattern candidate, a predetermined pattern representative of a specific individual, and receiving, as a target pattern, a corresponding pattern representative of an arbitrary individual desired to be identified as the specific individual; a comparative pattern storage portion storing at least one corresponding comparative pattern representative of at least one individual other than the specific individual as a comparative pattern; and a control portion comprising: correlation calculating means for calculating a correlation between two patterns through performing a Fourier transform on the two patterns, multiplying the Fourier transforms with each other, and performing an inverse Fourier transform on the multiplied result to obtain a correlation; first correlation control means for controlling the correlation calculating means to calculate a correlation between the reference pattern candidate and the comparative pattern through performing a Fourier transform on the reference pattern candidate and the comparative pattern, multiplying the Fourier transforms with each other, and performing an inverse Fourier transform on the multiplied result to obtain a correlation, thereby determining, based on the correlation, whether or not to record the reference pattern candidate as a reference pattern, and performing a reference storage control operation when the first correlation control means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate; reference storage means for storing the reference pattern candidate as a reference pattern when the first correlation control means determines to record the reference pattern candidate and for refusing to store the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern and performing a reference storage control operation when the first correlation control means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate; and second correlation control means for controlling the correlation calculating means to calculate a correlation between the target pattern and the reference pattern through performing a Fourier transform on the target pattern and the reference pattern, multiplying the Fourier transforms with each other, and performing an inverse Fourier transform on the multiplied result to obtain a correlation, thereby judging, based on the calculated correlation, whether or not the arbitrary person is the specific individual.

Claim 56

An individual identification apparatus for determining whether or not an arbitrary individual is a specific individual, the apparatus comprising: a reception portion for receiving, as a reference pattern candidate, a predetermined pattern representative of a specific individual, and receiving, as a target pattern, a corresponding pattern representative of an arbitrary individual desired to be identified as the specific individual; a comparative pattern storage portion storing at least one corresponding comparative pattern representative of at least one individual other than the specific individual as a comparative pattern; and a control portion comprising: correlation calculating means for calculating a correlation between two patterns through performing a Fourier transform on the two patterns, multiplying the Fourier transforms with each other, and performing an inverse Fourier transform on the multiplied result to obtain a correlation; first correlation control means for controlling the correlation calculating means to calculate a correlation between the reference pattern candidate and the comparative pattern through performing a Fourier transform on the reference pattern candidate and the comparative pattern, multiplying the Fourier transforms with each other, and performing an inverse Fourier transform on the multiplied result to obtain a correlation, thereby determining, based on the correlation, whether or not to record the reference pattern candidate as a reference pattern, and performing a reference storage control operation when the first correlation control means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate; reference storage means for storing the reference pattern candidate as a reference pattern when the first correlation control means determines to record the reference pattern candidate and for refusing to store the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern and performing a reference storage control operation when the first correlation control means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate; and second correlation control means for controlling the correlation calculating means to calculate a correlation between the target pattern and the reference pattern through performing a Fourier transform on the target pattern and the reference pattern, multiplying the Fourier transforms with each other, and performing an inverse Fourier transform on the multiplied result to obtain a correlation, thereby judging, based on the calculated correlation, whether or not the arbitrary person is the specific individual.

Claim 57

An individual identification apparatus for judging whether or not an arbitrary individual is a specific individual, the apparatus comprising: a reception portion for receiving a predetermined pattern of a specific individual as a reference pattern candidate and receiving a target pattern of an arbitrary individual desired to be identified as the specific individual; and a control portion comprising: correlation calculation means capable of calculating a correlation between two patterns through performing a Fourier transform on two patterns, multiplying the Fourier transforms with each other, and performing an inverse Fourier transform on the multiplied result to thereby obtain a correlation; reference storage judging means for allowing the reception portion to receive the reference pattern candidate and for controlling the correlation calculating means to calculate a correlation between the reference pattern candidate and a comparative pattern, thereby determining whether or not to record the reference pattern candidate, the comparative pattern including a corresponding pattern of an individual other than the specific individual; reference storage means for recording the reference pattern candidate as a reference pattern when the reference storage judging means determines to record the reference pattern candidate and for refusing to record the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern when the reference storage judging means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate; and identification judging means for allowing the reception portion to receive the target pattern and for controlling the correlation calculating means to calculate a correlation between the target pattern and the reference pattern, thereby judging whether or not the arbitrary person is the specific individual.

Claim 58

An individual identification apparatus for judging whether or not an arbitrary individual is a specific individual, the apparatus comprising: a reception portion for receiving a predetermined pattern of a specific individual as a reference pattern candidate and receiving a target pattern of an arbitrary individual desired to be identified as the specific individual; and a control portion comprising: correlation calculation means capable of calculating a correlation between two patterns through performing a Fourier transform on two patterns, multiplying the Fourier transforms with each other, and performing an inverse Fourier transform on the multiplied result to thereby obtain a correlation; reference storage judging means for allowing the reception portion to receive the reference pattern candidate and for controlling the correlation calculating means to calculate a correlation between the reference pattern candidate and a comparative pattern, thereby determining whether or not to record the reference pattern candidate, the comparative pattern including a corresponding pattern of an individual other than the specific individual; reference storage means for recording the reference pattern candidate as a reference pattern when the reference storage judging means determines to record the reference pattern candidate and for refusing to record the reference pattern candidate as the reference pattern when the reference storage judging means determines not to record the reference pattern candidate; and identification judging means for allowing the reception portion to receive the target pattern and for controlling the correlation calculating means to calculate a correlation between the target pattern and the reference pattern, thereby judging whether or not the arbitrary person is the specific individual.