Method and Apparatus to Incorporate Automatic Face Recognition in Digital Image Collections
First Claim
1. A method for creating and updating a facial image database from a collection of digital images, comprising:
- (a) detecting a first set of facial images in images from the collection of digital images;
(b) grouping the first set of facial images into similarity groups, wherein in each of the similarity groups facial recognition templates of facial images are within a predetermined range;
(c) displaying one or more of the similarity groups in a graphical user interface, wherein each of the similarity groups is substantially separately displayed;
(d) receiving user input to confirm or reject individual facial images in one or more of the displayed similarity groups; and
(e) updating one or more of the displayed similarity groups with the user input.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for creating and updating a facial image database from a collection of digital images is disclosed. A set of detected faces from a digital image collection is stored in a facial image database, along with data pertaining to them. At least one facial recognition template for each face in the first set is computed, and the images in the set are grouped according to the facial recognition template into similarity groups. Another embodiment is a naming tool for assigning names to a plurality of faces detected in a digital image collection. A facial image database stores data pertaining to facial images detected in images of a digital image collection. In addition, the naming tool may include a graphical user interface, a face detection module that detects faces in images of the digital image collection and stores data pertaining to the detected faces in the facial image database, a face recognition module that computes at least one facial recognition template for each facial image in the facial image database, and a similarity grouping module that groups facial images in the facial image database according to the respective templates such that similar facial images belong to one similarity group.
189 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for creating and updating a facial image database from a collection of digital images, comprising:
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(a) detecting a first set of facial images in images from the collection of digital images; (b) grouping the first set of facial images into similarity groups, wherein in each of the similarity groups facial recognition templates of facial images are within a predetermined range; (c) displaying one or more of the similarity groups in a graphical user interface, wherein each of the similarity groups is substantially separately displayed; (d) receiving user input to confirm or reject individual facial images in one or more of the displayed similarity groups; and (e) updating one or more of the displayed similarity groups with the user input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of updating a facial image database from a collection of digital images, comprising:
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(a) receiving a subject name from a user; (b) retrieving a first set of facial images from at least one named similarity group of facial images stored in the facial images database, wherein a name associated with said at least one similarity group substantially matches the subject name; (c) determining a first facial recognition template for the first set; (d) retrieving a second set of facial images from one or more unnamed similarity groups in the facial images database, wherein the unnamed similarity groups have no associated name, and wherein facial recognition templates of the unnamed similarity groups substantially match the first facial recognition template; (e) displaying the first set in a graphical user interface; (f) displaying the second set in the graphical user interface; (g) receiving user input associated with the second set; and (h) updating the second set according to the user input. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A naming tool for assigning names to a plurality of faces detected in a digital image collection comprising:
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(a) a facial image database configured to store data pertaining to facial images detected in images from the digital image collection; (b) at least one graphical user interface; (c) at least one user input device that enables manipulation of one or both of the data and the images, through the at least one graphical user interface; (d) a face detection module configured to detect faces in images of the digital image collection and to store data pertaining to the detected faces in the facial image database; (e) a face recognition module configured to compute at least one facial recognition template for each facial image in the facial image database; (f) a similarity ranking module configured to group facial images in the facial image database according to respective facial recognition templates such that substantially similar facial images belong to one similarity group; and (g) a display layout generation module configured to lay out the facial images according to similarity groups, wherein the at least one user input device, the at least one graphical user interface, the digital image collection, and the facial image database are communicatively coupled to the face detection module, the face recognition module, the similarity ranking module, and the display layout generation module.
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14. A method of accessing digital images from a collection of digital images, comprising:
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(a) receiving a subject name; (b) selecting a first set of facial images in a facial image database, wherein facial images in the first set are assigned the subject name; and (c) finding digital images from the collection of digital images, wherein the digital images were previously associated with the first set of facial images. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A method of searching for images of a person utilizing multiple source images, comprising:
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(a) receiving a subject name; (b) selecting a first set of facial images in a facial image database that are assigned the subject name; and (c) searching one or more digital image collections wherein search includes automatic face recognition using said first set of facial images. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification