Method and apparatus for face recognition

• US 20050063569A1
• Filed: 06/14/2004
• Published: 03/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Charles Colbert, David K. Perelman-Hall
• Original Assignee: Charles Colbert, David K. Perelman-Hall
• Inventors: Perelman-Hall, David K., Colbert, Charles
• Application Number:
  US10/867,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20050063569A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/118
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/169 Holistic features and representations, i.e. based on the facial image taken as a whole

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are disclosed which are useful in rapidly verifying a person'"'"'s identity at a distance, and/or identifying a person with a high degree of certitude, from a pool of other persons, using an innovative technique to compare facial images. Such a person (Candidate) may voluntarily consent or cooperate to have his facial image recorded, or the Candidate'"'"'s facial image may have been recorded involuntarily. Typically, an image recorded for identification purposes will be a facial image of a Candidate present before a camera or other image procuring device, to be compared with a previously stored Reference facial image, as in a building lobby, for identification purposes. The Candidate'"'"'s facial image is recorded voluntarily but the Reference image is not in the Candidate'"'"'s possession. Reference images may be stored as Reference templates in an image storage database (such as developed by a governmental agency), or in an entrance lobby to the Candidate'"'"'s apartment, or in a camera memory installed in a cockpit door of a transit vehicle to prevent access by hijackers. For verification purposes, the Reference facial image may be a hard copy, for example, a driver license, membership card, or passport in the Candidate'"'"'s possession. A specially modified digital camera significantly reduces the requirement for a large memory to store templates, and makes it feasible to search for and identify rapidly (at distances up to 500 feet) suspects among a group of persons passing into or through such facilities as terminals, vehicles, customs stations, malls, ramps, etc. It is feasible to combine face recognition technology with other biometrics that express the degree of sameness as a numerical match score.

Claims