US7369685B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vision-based operating method and system
Assignee: Idemia Identity and Security USA LLC
•
Filing: 2002-04-05
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Granted: 2008-05-06
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Expires: 2022-04-05
Abstract
Abstract A vision-based operating system is provided in which a computer-based system accepts visual inputs and takes appropriate actions in a wide variety of environments. One environment is a security environment in which the vision-based operating system acquires an image of a face and determines, with an arbitrarily small probability of a false positive, whether the face is of a person who is authorized to enter the environment. The method employed may include acquiring a digital image for comparison to a reference image and identifying a group of pixels in the acquired image. A pixel group in the reference image that is the best match for the pixel group in the acquired image is selected. These steps are repeated for at least one more group of pixels. The relative locations of the selected pixel groups in the reference images and the pixel groups in the acquired image are compared, and the probability that the relative locations occurred randomly is determined.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruno C. DeLean
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 11:09
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/30; G06F21/31; G06F21/32; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/70; G06V10/74; G06V10/75; G06V10/757; G06V40/00; G06V40/10; G06V40/16; G06V40/172
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of determining whether an acquired image matches a reference image, comprising: acquiring a digital image for comparison to a reference image; identifying a group of pixels in the acquired image; selecting the pixel group in the reference image that is the best match for the pixel group in the acquired image; repeating the preceding steps for at least one more group of pixels; comparing the relative locations of the selected pixel groups in the reference image and the pixel groups in the acquired image; and determining the probability that the relative locations occurred randomly.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of determining whether an acquired image matches a reference image, comprising: acquiring a digital image for comparison to a reference image; identifying a group of pixels in the acquired image; selecting the pixel group in the reference image that is the best match for the pixel group in the acquired image; repeating the preceding steps for at least one more group of pixels; comparing the relative locations of the selected pixel groups in the reference image and the pixel groups in the acquired image; and determining the probability that the relative locations occurred randomly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of claim 1 , further comprising: comparing the probability of a random match to a threshold probability for concluding that the images match.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of claim 2 , wherein the threshold probability is set to reduce the probability of a false conclusion to an arbitrarily low number.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of claim 1 , wherein finding the closest pixel group uses a least squares calculation of the differences between the pixel groups in the reference image and the pixel groups in the acquired image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of claim 1 , further comprising: upon acquiring the reference image and the acquired image, filtering the images prior to completing the additional steps.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method of claim 5 , wherein the filtering comprises: determining the luminance of a pixel based on an average of values of neighboring pixels; comparing the value of the luminance of the pixel to a threshold value; setting the filtered value of the pixel to zero if the luminance is below the threshold; and setting the filtered value of the pixel to one if the luminance is equal to or greater than the threshold value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of claim 6 , further comprising: normalizing the acquired image and the reference image by locating known features in a predetermined location.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of claim 1 , wherein acquiring the image is accomplished by a vision processing system having a vision-based operating system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of claim 1 , further comprising: comparing the acquired image to more than one reference image.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
88 words
A method of claim 1 , wherein comparing the relative locations of the pixel groups of the acquired image and the pixel groups of the reference image comprises: defining a first vector between the first pixel group of the acquired image and a second pixel group of the acquired image; defining a second vector between the first pixel group of the reference image and the second pixel group of the reference image; and calculating an absolute value of the difference between the first vector and the second vector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method of claim 10 , further comprising: repeating the calculation for additional pixel groups.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method of claim 1 , further comprising: comparing the probability of a random match to a threshold probability for concluding that the images match; repeating the steps for a different reference image; and allowing unlimited number of mismatches before allowing a match to one of the reference images.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of claim 1 , further comprising: upon determining a match, adding the acquired image to a database of reference images to facilitate future matches.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the acquired digital image corresponds to a patch of skin.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of analyzing an image comprising: acquiring a first surface area of a surface location of an image of a person to be analyzed; retrieving a second surface area of the same surface location of a reference image; identifying a first group of pixels in said first surface area; selecting a second group of pixels from said second surface area that is a best match for said first group of pixels; repeating the above steps for at least one more group of pixels in said first and second surface areas; comparing the relative locations of said pixel groups in said first and second surface areas; determining a probability that the relative locations occurred randomly; and calculating a score representing a likelihood that said first and second surface areas are from the same person.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of analyzing an image comprising: acquiring a first surface area of a surface location of an image of a person to be analyzed; retrieving a second surface area of the same surface location of a reference image; identifying a first group of pixels in said first surface area; selecting a second group of pixels from said second surface area that is a best match for said first group of pixels; repeating the above steps for at least one more group of pixels in said first and second surface areas; comparing the relative locations of said pixel groups in said first and second surface areas; determining a probability that the relative locations occurred randomly; and calculating a score representing a likelihood that said first and second surface areas are from the same person.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
116 words
A system for determining whether an acquired image matches a reference image, comprising: a camera for acquiring a digital image for comparison to a reference image; an identification module for identifying a group of pixels in the acquired image; a selection module for selecting the pixel group in the reference image that is the best match for the pixel group in the acquired image; a comparison module for repeating the preceding steps for at least one more group of pixels and for comparing the relative locations of the selected pixel groups in the reference image and the pixel groups in the acquired image; and a calculator for determining the probability that the relative locations occurred randomly.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
116 words
A system for determining whether an acquired image matches a reference image, comprising: a camera for acquiring a digital image for comparison to a reference image; an identification module for identifying a group of pixels in the acquired image; a selection module for selecting the pixel group in the reference image that is the best match for the pixel group in the acquired image; a comparison module for repeating the preceding steps for at least one more group of pixels and for comparing the relative locations of the selected pixel groups in the reference image and the pixel groups in the acquired image; and a calculator for determining the probability that the relative locations occurred randomly.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system of claim 16 , further comprising: a match module for comparing the probability of a random match to a threshold probability for concluding that the images match.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system of claim 17 , wherein the threshold probability is set to reduce the probability of a false conclusion to an arbitrarily low number.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system of claim 16 , wherein finding the closest pixel group uses a least squares calculation of the differences between the pixel groups in the reference image and the pixel groups in the acquired image.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system of claim 16 , further comprising: a filter for filtering the images prior to completing the additional steps.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
76 words
A system of claim 20 , wherein the filtering comprises determining the luminance of a pixel based on an average of values of neighboring pixels, comparing the value of the luminance of the pixel to a threshold value, setting the filtered value of the pixel to zero if the luminance is below the threshold and setting the filtered value of the pixel to one if the luminance is equal to or greater than the threshold value.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system of claim 21 , further comprising: a normalization module for normalizing the acquired image and the reference image by locating known features in a predetermined location.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system of claim 16 , wherein acquiring the image is accomplished by a vision processing system having a vision-based operating system.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system of claim 16 , further comprising: a comparison module for comparing the acquired image to more than one reference image.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
88 words
A system of claim 16 , wherein comparing the relative positions of the pixel groups of the acquired image and the pixel groups of the reference image comprises: defining a first vector between the first pixel group of the acquired image and a second pixel group of the acquired image; defining a second vector between the first pixel group of the reference image and the second pixel group of the reference image; and calculating an absolute value of the difference between the first vector and the second vector.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
62 words
A system of claim 16 , wherein: the calculator compares the probability of a random match to a threshold probability for concluding that the images match; and further including: a reference image retrieval module for repeating the steps for a different reference image, wherein the system allows an unlimited number of mismatches before allowing a match to one of the reference images.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system of claim 16 , further comprising: an image storage module for, upon determining a match, adding the acquired image to a database of reference images to facilitate future matches.
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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) | 2011-05-06 | 2011-11-05 | 2012-05-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2015-05-06 | 2015-11-05 | 2016-05-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2019-05-06 | 2019-11-05 | 2020-05-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |