Network-based system and method for detection of faces and the like
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of detecting the presence of a predetermined pattern type in an applied image, the method comprising:
- (a) synthesizing a network by;
(i) generating a first set of prototypes representative of the predetermined pattern type;
(ii) generating a second set of prototypes not representative of the predetermined pattern type by operating the network with the first set of prototypes, identifying a set of problem images yielding false positives when applied to the network, and using the problem images to form the second set of prototypes; and
(iii) training the network by application of training images, for which it is known whether each such training image is representative of the predetermined pattern type; and
(b) operating the network by;
(i) preprocessing the applied image to obtain a preprocessed applied image;
(ii) determining a distance metric between the preprocessed applied image and each of the first and second sets of prototypes to obtain a plurality of distance metrics;
(iii) applying said plurality of distance metrics to said network; and
(iv) producing a detection signal indicative of whether the applied image is representative of the predetermined pattern type.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A face detection system (100) includes an imaging device, a computer having a pattern prototype synthesizer and an image classifier, and an output display device. Face and non-face pattern prototypes are synthesized by a network training process using a number of example images. A new applied image is analyzed by taking a distance from the applied image to each of the prototypes, and a decision is made as to whether the applied image contains a face based on the distances thus obtained. The system and method may be applied to various other detection tasks.
160 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method of detecting the presence of a predetermined pattern type in an applied image, the method comprising:
-
(a) synthesizing a network by; (i) generating a first set of prototypes representative of the predetermined pattern type; (ii) generating a second set of prototypes not representative of the predetermined pattern type by operating the network with the first set of prototypes, identifying a set of problem images yielding false positives when applied to the network, and using the problem images to form the second set of prototypes; and (iii) training the network by application of training images, for which it is known whether each such training image is representative of the predetermined pattern type; and (b) operating the network by; (i) preprocessing the applied image to obtain a preprocessed applied image; (ii) determining a distance metric between the preprocessed applied image and each of the first and second sets of prototypes to obtain a plurality of distance metrics; (iii) applying said plurality of distance metrics to said network; and (iv) producing a detection signal indicative of whether the applied image is representative of the predetermined pattern type. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A system for detecting the presence of a predetermined pattern type in an applied image, the system comprising:
-
a pattern prototype synthesizer including a preprocessor, an image database, and a prototype generator, the preprocessor normalizing and filtering a plurality of example patterns, the image database storing the plurality of example patterns and having a first section and a second section, the first section containing first example patterns representative of the predetermined pattern type and the second section containing second example patterns not representative of the predetermined pattern type, the second example patterns being generated from images applied to the system for which the predetermined pattern type is falsely detected, and the prototype generator forming prototype patterns based on the example patterns; and an image classifier operatively coupled to the pattern prototype synthesizer, the image classifier including a distance metric processor producing a distance measure representative of a distance between the applied image and each of the prototype patterns, and a network operatively coupled to the distance metric processor, the network accepting as input the distance measure and producing as output a detection signal representative of the presence of the predetermined pattern type in the applied image. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification