US7336830B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Face detection
Assignee: Sony United Kingdom Ltd
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Filing: 2003-11-25
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Granted: 2008-02-26
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Expires: 2023-11-25
Abstract
Abstract Video face detection apparatus in which a test image from a video sequence is compared with an image property model derived from image properties of a region detected to contain a face in a preceding image in the video sequence comprises: selecting a predetermined proportion of pixels in the region detected to contain a face in the preceding image which most closely match the image property model derived in respect of that region, thereby deriving a pixel mask; and comparing pixels in the test image defined by the pixel mask with the image property model, the mask being applied at more than one image position within the test image; a face being detected in the test image at a mask position corresponding to a lowest average difference between the image property model and pixels defined by the mask at that position.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Mark Stefan Porter
- 👤 Ratna Rambaruth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 12:47
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V40/00; G06V40/10; G06V40/16; G06V40/161; G06V10/00; G06V10/40; G06V10/48; G06V10/50; G06V10/507; H; H04; H04N; H04N23/00; H04N23/60; H04N23/61; H04N23/611; H04N5/00; H04N5/76; H04N5/765; H04N5/77; H04N5/772
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A video face detection apparatus in which a test image from a video sequence is compared with an image property model derived from image properties of a region detected to contain a face in a preceding image in said video sequence, said apparatus comprising: (i) a selector to select a predetermined proportion of pixels in said region detected to contain a face in said preceding image which most closely match said image property model derived in respect of that region, thereby deriving a pixel mask; (ii) a comparator to compare pixels in said test image defined by said pixel mask with said image property model, said mask being applied at more than one image position within said test image; a face being detected in said test image at a mask position corresponding to a lowest average difference between said image property model and pixels defined by said mask at that position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
A video face detection apparatus in which a test image from a video sequence is compared with an image property model derived from image properties of a region detected to contain a face in a preceding image in said video sequence, said apparatus comprising: (i) a selector to select a predetermined proportion of pixels in said region detected to contain a face in said preceding image which most closely match said image property model derived in respect of that region, thereby deriving a pixel mask; (ii) a comparator to compare pixels in said test image defined by said pixel mask with said image property model, said mask being applied at more than one image position within said test image; a face being detected in said test image at a mask position corresponding to a lowest average difference between said image property model and pixels defined by said mask at that position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , in which said image property model is a color model.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 , in which said color model is a Gaussian model of color distribution.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 , in which said color model represents a color distribution in at least a part of at least one image of said video sequence.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , in which said mask is applied to said test image at positions within a test region surrounding the image position of said detected face in said preceding image.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 , in which said test region is a rectangular region.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 , in which said predetermined proportion is 50% of said pixels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
A video conferencing apparatus comprising the apparatus according to claim 1 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
A surveillance apparatus comprising the apparatus according to claim 1 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
149 words
A video face detection method in which a test image from a video sequence is compared with an image property model derived from image properties of a region detected to contain a face in a preceding image in said video sequence, said method comprising the steps of: (i) selecting a predetermined proportion of pixels in said region detected to contain said face in said preceding image which most closely match said image property model derived in respect of that region, thereby deriving a pixel mask; and (ii) comparing pixels in said test image defined by said pixel mask with said image property model, said mask being applied at more than one image position within said test image; said face being detected in said test image at a mask position corresponding to a lowest average difference between said image property model and pixels defined by said mask at that position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
149 words
A video face detection method in which a test image from a video sequence is compared with an image property model derived from image properties of a region detected to contain a face in a preceding image in said video sequence, said method comprising the steps of: (i) selecting a predetermined proportion of pixels in said region detected to contain said face in said preceding image which most closely match said image property model derived in respect of that region, thereby deriving a pixel mask; and (ii) comparing pixels in said test image defined by said pixel mask with said image property model, said mask being applied at more than one image position within said test image; said face being detected in said test image at a mask position corresponding to a lowest average difference between said image property model and pixels defined by said mask at that position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
165 words
A computer readable medium encoded with a computer program configured to cause a processor to execute a video face detection method in which a test image from a video sequence is compared with an image property model derived from image properties of a region detected to contain a face in a preceding image in said video sequence, said method comprising the steps of: (i) selecting a predetermined proportion of pixels in said region detected to contain said face in said preceding image which most closely match said image property model derived in respect of that region, thereby deriving a pixel mask; and (ii) comparing pixels in said test image defined by said pixel mask with said image property model, said mask being applied at more than one image position within said test image; said face being detected in said test image at a mask position corresponding to a lowest average difference between said image property model and pixels defined by said mask at that position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
165 words
A computer readable medium encoded with a computer program configured to cause a processor to execute a video face detection method in which a test image from a video sequence is compared with an image property model derived from image properties of a region detected to contain a face in a preceding image in said video sequence, said method comprising the steps of: (i) selecting a predetermined proportion of pixels in said region detected to contain said face in said preceding image which most closely match said image property model derived in respect of that region, thereby deriving a pixel mask; and (ii) comparing pixels in said test image defined by said pixel mask with said image property model, said mask being applied at more than one image position within said test image; said face being detected in said test image at a mask position corresponding to a lowest average difference between said image property model and pixels defined by said mask at that position.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2011-02-25 | 2011-08-27 | 2012-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2015-02-25 | 2015-08-27 | 2016-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2019-02-25 | 2019-08-27 | 2020-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |