Method and Apparatus for Encouraging Social Networking Through Employment of Facial Feature Comparison and Matching

• US 20100266167A1
• Filed: 04/20/2010
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jodi Kodesh, Mark Kodesh
• Original Assignee: Jodi Kodesh, Mark Kodesh
• Inventors: Kodesh, Jodi, Kodesh, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,538,093 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/118
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/30 in albums, collections or shared content, e.g. social network photos or video
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/172 Classification, e.g. identification

Abstract

A social networking site providing facial similarity matching services to subscribers to the social networking site. A subscriber may upload a digital image of himself and have it compared to digital images of other member subscribers using software to interpret points of comparison on each digital image. Subscribers may effect the outcome of the matching process by designating a selection of images as close matches from a computer generated plurality of matching images. A collage of finally matched images is provided to the inquiring subscriber as well as contact information to communicate with the other subscribers.

Claims

1. A method for matching digital facial images of subscribers to a social network to current and newly acquired facial images of other persons comprising the steps of:

providing an accessible website for potential users of said social network;

providing an input webpage for said potential users to register as subscribers to said social network;

allowing said subscribers to upload digital images to a database on a server for said social network with each respective said digital image having the face of a respective said subscriber therein,;

employing software adapted to the task, to designate substantially the same points of comparison located upon said face of each said digital image;

employing software, based upon said points of comparison, to designate a respective facial profile for each said digital image of each said subscriber;

storing said facial profiles in a database;

comparing said facial profile of an individual said digital image of an individual inquiring subscriber, to said facial profiles in said database, to thereby ascertain a plurality of matching facial images each having facial profiles similar to said digital image of said inquiring subscriber;

providing said inquiring subscriber said plurality of matching facial images;

allowing said inquiring subscriber to designate a selection from said plurality of matching facial images which said inquiring subscriber considers a close match to their own respective said digital image as a matched group of images;

employing said matched group of images, and said individual said digital image of said inquiring subscriber to generate a collage image; and

providing said collage image to said inquiring subscribe for display on a webpage.

2. The method of claim 1 also including:

changing said digital images uploaded to said server from color digital images to grayscale digital images before designating said points of comparison.

3. The method of claim 1 also including:

allowing individual said subscribers to employ a targeting cursor upon a provided display of their own digital image, to designate at least some of said points of comparison upon their own said digital image.

4. The method of claim 2 also including:

allowing individual said subscribers to employ a targeting cursor upon a provided display of their own digital image, to designate at least some of said points of comparison upon their own said digital image.

5. The method of claim 1 also including:

applying a mathematical score to each of said selection from said plurality of matching facial images;

employing said mathematical score as a determining factor in any future determination of said matching facial images.

6. The method of claim 2 also including:

applying a mathematical score to each of said selection from said plurality of matching facial images;

employing said mathematical score as a determining factor in any future determination of said matching facial images.

7. The method of claim 3 also including:

applying a mathematical score to each of said selection from said plurality of matching facial images;

employing said mathematical score as a determining factor in any future determination of said matching facial images.

8. The method of claim 4 also including:

applying a mathematical score to each of said selection from said plurality of matching facial images;

employing said mathematical score as a determining factor in any future determination of said matching facial images.

9. The method of claim 1 also including:

allowing other subscribers to other social networking web sites to upload said digital images to said database; and

allowing individual of said other subscribers to interface with said server as said inquiring subscriber.

10. The method of claim 2 also including:

allowing other subscribers to other social networking web sites to upload said digital images to said database; and

allowing individual of said other subscribers to interface with said server as said inquiring subscriber.

11. The method of claim 3 also including:

allowing other subscribers to other social networking web sites to upload said digital images to said database; and

allowing individual of said other subscribers to interface with said server as said inquiring subscriber.

12. The method of claim 4 also including:

allowing other subscribers to other social networking web sites to upload said digital images to said database; and

allowing individual of said other subscribers to interface with said server as said inquiring subscriber.

13. The method of claim 5 also including:

allowing other subscribers to other social networking web sites to upload said digital images to said database; and

allowing individual of said other subscribers to interface with said server as said inquiring subscriber.

14. The method of claim 1 also including:

providing said inquiring subscriber contact information for each subscriber having a said image in said matched group of images.

15. The method of claim 2 also including:

providing said inquiring subscriber contact information for each subscriber having a said image in said matched group of images.

16. The method of claim 3 also including:

providing said inquiring subscriber contact information for each subscriber having a said image in said matched group of images.

17. The method of claim 4 also including:

providing said inquiring subscriber contact information for each subscriber having a said image in said matched group of images.

18. The method of claim 9 also including:

providing said inquiring subscriber contact information for each subscriber having a said image in said matched group of images.