MUG SHOT ACQUISITION SYSTEM

• US 20110013003A1
• Filed: 05/18/2010
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Munission Hunter, LLC
• Original Assignee: Munission Hunter, LLC
• Inventors: Thompson, Mark, Munie, Philip A., Lupa, Robert M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,769,412 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/77
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/161 Detection; Localisation; Normalisation

Abstract

A mug shot acquisition system is disclosed that includes an image acquisition interface that is operative to receive digital mug shot images from an imaging device. An image viewing display is responsive to the image acquisition interface and operative to display the received digital mug shot images. One or more standards-based image adjustment software tools allow the digital mug shot images to be adjusted to meet at least one predetermined mug shot image uniformity standard. The system also includes a software interface responsive to requests to initiate one or more operations by the mug shot acquisition system, and an image export interface operative to export digital mug shot images adjusted based on the standards-based image adjustment software.

Claims

1. A mug shot acquisition system, comprising:

an image acquisition interface operative to receive digital mug shot images from an imaging device,

an image viewing display responsive to the image acquisition interface and operative to display the received digital mug shot images,

one or more standards-based image adjustment software tools operative to allow the digital mug shot images to be adjusted to meet at least one predetermined mug shot image uniformity standard,

a software interface responsive to requests to initiate one or more operations by the mug shot acquisition system, and

an image export interface operative to export digital mug shot images adjusted based on the standards-based image adjustment software.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the system further includes storage for machine-readable standards and wherein the standards based-image adjustment software tools include at least one tool that automatically applies a standard.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the standards-based image adjustment software tools include standards compliance display indicators that are operative to indicate a degree of compliance of an image with at least one predetermined standard.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the standards-based image adjustment software tool includes a background calibration tool operative to apply at least one predetermined standard to a background against which a digital mug shot image is to be acquired.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the background calibration tool is operative to evaluate a background for uniformity of illumination against a predetermined standard for uniformity of illumination and is operative to present an indication of compliance to the standard to the user.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the background calibration tool is operative to provide at least one spatial indicator to convey spatial information about non-uniformity of illumination.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the background calibration tool is operative to apply at least one predetermined image color content standard to the digital mug shot images.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the standards-based image adjustment software is operative to apply at least one predetermined pixel-size standard to the digital mug shot images.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the standards-based image adjustment software tools include an exposure validation tool operative to validate an exposure level for at least one digital mug shot image according to a predetermined standard.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the exposure validation tool is operative to detect hot spots and shadows.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the standards-based image adjustment software tools include a framing tool.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the framing tool provides automated assistance to a system user in framing the face, head, and shoulders according to a predetermined standard.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the framing tool is operative to provide at least one on-screen movable image alignment reference that is operative to be displayed in the display at the same time as is a digital mug shot image.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the framing tool includes automatic subject tracking logic operative to automatically position the at least on reference relative to at least one anatomical feature of the mug shot subject.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the framing tool includes manual guide positioning logic responsive to user input to manually position the at least one reference relative to the at least one anatomical feature of the mug shot subject.

16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the framing tool is operative to provide references for a width, a horizontal mid-point, and an eye level of a subject face.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the image acquisition interface is a universal interface that is operative to acquire digital mug shot images from different types of image sources.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the image acquisition interface is operative to interface with still image cameras and video cameras.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the image acquisition interface is operative to convey an acquisition triggering control to the image source while an image received from the interface is being displayed on the display.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the display includes a window in a larger display device associated with a general-purpose computer.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the standards-based image adjustment software tools include a depth-of-field validation tool operative to apply a predetermined depth of field standard to the digital mug shot images.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the image acquisition interface is responsive to one or more image acquisition controls displayed in the display.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the image acquisition interface is a digital camera interface and includes a digital camera cable and wherein the system further includes a digital camera mount within range of the digital camera cable.

24. The apparatus of claim 1 further including user interface logic operative to display a pose selection control, a capture control, and a camera window in the display.

25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein the user interface logic is further operative to display a thumbnail icon area that presents icons that each correspond to different types of mug shot images.

26. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the software interface is responsive to a launch command to launch the mug shot acquisition system.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the software interface is responsive to the launch command together with at least one parameter.

28. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the software interface is constructed to allow a transfer of control that does not provide any significant cue that different programs are being used.

29. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the software interface is constructed to allow a transfer of control from a records management system.

30. A mug shot acquisition system, comprising:

means for receiving digital mug shot images from an imaging device,

means for displaying the received digital mug shot images,

standards-based image adjustment means for allowing the digital mug shot images to be adjusted to meet at least one predetermined mug shot image uniformity standard,

means responsive to software requests to initiate one or more operations by the mug shot acquisition system, and

means for exporting digital mug shot images adjusted based on the standards-based image adjustment means.