INTERACTIVE PHOTOGRAPHY SYSTEM AND METHOD EMPLOYING FACIAL RECOGNITION

• US 20140105466A1
• Filed: 10/11/2013
• Published: 04/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ocean Images UK Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Ocean Images UK Ltd.
• Inventors: Botes, Francois, Veitch, Toby, Mallion, Richard, Shotter, Oliver
• Application Number:
  US14/052,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20140105466A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/118
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/784 the detected or recognised objects being people
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/16 Human faces, e.g. facial parts, sketches or expressions
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00132 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00336 with an apparatus performing pattern recognition, e.g. of a face or a geographic feature image or video recognition or understanding of scenes G06V20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32101 Display, printing, storage or transmission of additional information, e.g. ID code, date and time or title

Abstract

A system and method for providing social photography services at locations such as Cruise Ship and Theme Parks with the purpose of giving a customer a unique identifier, associating the unique identifier with a reference imagine of the customer, and matching reference images to images shot at the locale using facial recognition techniques. A photograph gallery application is also provided, allowing customers and employees to access the facially recognized images for viewing, purchasing, and printing. This system and method employs computer based technology and facial recognition to provide fast and accurate photography production, processing, selection, printing, and sale.

Claims

1. An interactive photograph system, comprising:

an image capture system, a facial recognition server, and a photograph gallery application system;

said image capture system configured to obtain at least one reference photograph of at least one individual and associate a unique identifier corresponding to the identity of said individual with said reference photograph;

said facial recognition server configured to store said at least one reference image and conduct a facial recognition comparison between at least one new image and said reference image in order to identify said individual appearing in said new image;

said facial recognition server further configured to embed said unique identifier of said individual in said new image; and

said photograph gallery application system configured to recall said at least one new image from said facial recognition server and display said new image to a user for selection, ordering, and purchase.

2. The interactive photograph system of claim 1, wherein said image capture system comprises a mobile device executing an image capture application, wherein said image capture application receives said unique identifier by scanning a bar code containing said unique identifier.

3. The interactive photograph system of claim 1, wherein said at least one reference photograph is captured after said image capture system receives said unique identifier corresponding to said individual in said reference photograph.

4. The interactive photograph system of claim 1, wherein said facial recognition server is in bi-directional communication with said image capture system.

5. The interactive photograph system of claim 1, wherein said photograph gallery application system is executable on a computing device, said computing device connectable to the Internet.

6. An interactive photograph method, comprising:

upon entry or embarkation, executing an image capture application on a mobile device;

scanning, by said mobile device, a bar code containing a unique identifier corresponding to the identity of an individual;

capturing an image of said individual by way of a camera interfaced with said image capture application;

associating said unique identifier with said captured image;

uploading said captured image as a reference image to a facial recognition server, said facial recognition server in communication with said mobile device and said image capture application;

processing said reference image through a biometric algorithm to obtain reference biometric wireframe face data corresponding to the facial features of said individual in said reference image;

storing said wireframe face data on said facial recognition server;

obtaining at least one new image on said individual;

processing said new image through said biometric algorithm to obtain new biometric wireframe face data corresponding to new facial features in said new image;

comparing, on said facial recognition server, said new biometric wireframe face data with said reference biometric wireframe face data to determine whether there is a match therebetween; and

if said match is determined, associating said unique identifier with said new image.

7. The interactive photograph method of claim 6, wherein said at least one new image is recalled in a photograph gallery application executive on a computing device.

8. The interactive photograph method of claim 7, wherein said photograph gallery application system configured to recall said at least one new image from said facial recognition server and display said new image on said computing device for selection, ordering, and purchase.

9. The interactive photograph method of claim 6, wherein said facial recognition server is in communication with a print server, said print server in further communication with a printer, said printer configured to print said at least one new image.

10. The interactive photograph method of claim 6, wherein if said match is determined, said new biometric wireframe face data is added to said reference biometric wireframe face data in order to increase the accuracy of said facial recognition server.