Method and apparatus for performing facial recognition with a hand-held imaging device

• US 20030161507A1
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Published: 08/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Spectra Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Spectra Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Lawandy, Nabil M.
• Application Number:
  US10/376,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20030161507A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/118
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/142 using hand-held instruments; Constructional details of the instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/166 using acquisition arrangements

Abstract

A facial image capture and recognition system in accordance with these teachings includes a portable, hand-held device (5) having a facial image capture sub-system (20) for generating digital data representing an image of a face of an individual from one or more desired vantage points, angles and/or distances. A data processor (20, 115) operates to process the digital data for comparing the digital data to at least one target facial image (18A). A wireless link (95) is provided for transmitting at least one of image digital data or a recognition result from the device to a remote data processor (115). The target facial image can be stored in the portable, hand-held device, and can be received through the wireless link from a data communications network, such as the Internet (105). These teachings also pertain to methods for using the portable, hand-held device and related systems.

Claims

1. A facial image capture and recognition system, comprising:

a portable, hand-held device comprising a facial image capture sub-system for generating digital data representing an image of a face of an individual from one or more desired vantage points, angles and/or distances; and

a data processor for processing the digital data for comparing the digital data to at least one target facial image.

2. A system as in claim 1, further comprising a wireless link for transmitting at least one of image digital data or a recognition result from the device to a remote data processor.

3. A system as in claim 1, where the target facial image is stored in the portable, hand-held device.

4. A system as in claim 2, where the target facial image is received through said wireless link from a data communications network for storage within said portable, hand-held device.

5. A system as in claim 4, where said data communications network comprises the Internet.

6. A system as in claim 2, where the wireless link comprises an interface to a remote data processor that is reachable through the Internet.

7. A system as in claim 6, where said data processor that processes said digital data comprises said remote data processor.

8. A system as in claim 2, where the wireless link also transmits other data related to the image digital data or the recognition result.

9. A system as in claim 8, where the other data comprises at least one of location data for indicating a location of the device and biometrics data related to the individual.

10. A system as in claim 2, where the device comprises a telecommunications device, and where the wireless link comprises a cellular link.

11. A method to perform facial image capture and recognition, comprising:

generating digital data representing an image of a face of an individual from one or more desired vantage points, angles and/or distances using a portable, hand-held device comprising a facial image capture sub-system; and

processing the digital data for comparing the digital data to at least one target facial image.

12. A method as in claim 11, further comprising a wireless link for transmitting at least one of image digital data or a recognition result from the device to a remote data processor.

13. A method as in claim 11, where the target facial image is stored in the portable, hand-held device.

14. A method as in claim 12, further comprising:

receiving the target facial image through said wireless link from a data communications network; and

storing the received target facial image within said portable, hand-held device.

15. A method as in claim 14, where said data communications network comprises the Internet.

16. A method as in claim 12, where the wireless link comprises an interface to a remote data processor that is reachable through the Internet.

17. A method as in claim 16, where said data processor that processes said digital data comprises said remote data processor.

18. A method as in claim 12, where the wireless link also transmits other data related to the image digital data or the recognition result.

19. A method as in claim 18, where the other data comprises at least one of location data for indicating a location of the device and biometrics data related to the individual.

20. A method as in claim 12, where the device comprises a telecommunications device, and where the wireless link comprises a cellular link.