Information device and computer product

• US 7,639,266 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2003
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Tanaka, Kenichi, Yamamoto, Mitsuhiko, Takeda, Akihiro, Kage, Hiroshi, Taniguchi, Shigeki, Kikuchi, Misao
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Kimbinh T
• Application Number:
  US10/346,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20030146921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,538 Days
• Field of Search: 345/629, 345/619, 345/751, 345/758, 345/641, 345646-647, 345/501, 345/630, 345/581, 345/441, 345/636, 345/660, 345/473, 345/2.3, 345/440, 455/566, 455/3.01, 455/415, 455/461, 455/551, 715/788, 715/866, 715/864, 415/415, 415/461, 415/551, 415/3.01
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/00 2D [Two Dimensional] image generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/171 Local features and components; Facial parts eye characteristics G06V40/18; Occluding parts, e.g. glasses; Geometrical relationships
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/576 associated with a pictorial or graphical representation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72439 for image or video messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• 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 1/0014 via e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00167 Processing or editing H04N1/00196 - H04N1/00201 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00209 Transmitting or receiving image data, e.g. facsimile data, via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network, the internet, I-fax
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00307 with a mobile telephone apparatus constructional features of portable telephone sets H04M1/0202; mobile radio systems H04W84/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2101/00 Still video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera

Abstract

A transmission-side cellular phone sends, via a mail server, to a reception-side cellular phone a face image and its attribute information as an attachment to an email. The reception-side cellular phone extracts the face image from the email, selects face part images from among a plurality of face part images stored in the face part storing section, combines the face image and the selected face parts, and displays the combined image. The reception-side cellular phone selects the face part images based on, for example, a number of times a telephone call from a person was not attended in a predetermined period.

Claims

1. An information device, comprising:

a portrait obtaining unit configured to obtain a face portrait of a user including a first face part image corresponding to a first facial expression of the user and attribute information of the face portrait, the attribute information indicating a position of the first face part image, wherein a facial image is obtained by photographing the user, the facial image is converted into binary data, the converted data is projected on a two dimensional coordinate system, and the face portrait and the attribute information are generated based on the projected data; and

a changing unit configured to obtain a second face part image corresponding to a second facial expression of the user and to replace the first face part image with the second face part image based on the attribute information, and

where a facial expression of the face portrait is selectively changed from the first facial expression to the second facial expression responsive to a selection of the second facial expression by the user, and displayed with the second facial expression responsive to execution of a call related operation correlated with the second facial expression as specified by the user at said selection.

4. The information device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a photographing unit configured to photograph the facial image;

a portrait generating unit configured to generate the face portrait and the attribute information;

a portrait storing unit configured to store the face portrait and the attribute information;

an expression assignment information obtaining unit configured to obtain expression assignment information related to a facial expression of the face portrait, the facial expression being specified by the user,

a face part storing unit configured to store a plurality of face part images including the second face part image, correspondingly with a plurality of expression assignment information; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the face portrait output from the changing unit, where the changing unit obtains the second face part image from the face part storing unit based on the face assignment information obtained from the expression assignment obtaining unit, and

obtains the face portrait and the attribute information from the portrait storing unit.

2. An information device, comprising:

a portrait obtaining unit configured to obtain a face portrait of a user including a first face part image corresponding a first facial expression of the user, and attribute information of the face portrait, the attribute information including information related to a position of the first face part image in the face portrait, the face portrait and the attribute information being generated based on a predetermined algorithm from a facial image obtained by photographing the user;

a changing unit configured to obtain a second face part image corresponding to a second facial expression of the user and to replace the first face part image in the face portrait with the second face part image based on the attribute information, where a facial expression of the face portrait is selectively changed from the first facial expression to the second facial expression responsive to a selection of the second facial expression by the user;

a call receiver configured to receive a call from another information device having a predetermined number,

a call register storing unit configured to store call register information related to the call from the other information device;

a portrait receiver configured to receive the face portrait and the attribute information from the other information device;

a portrait storing unit configured to store the face portrait and attribute information received correspondingly with the predetermined number;

an expression assignment information storing unit configured to store a plurality of expression assignment information, each expression assignment information specifying a facial expression of the face portrait;

a face part storing unit configured to store a plurality of face part images including the second face part image correspondingly with the plurality of expression assignment information; and

a display configured to display the face portrait output from the changing unit, and where the changing unit obtains;

the predetermined number when the call receiver receives the call from the other information device,

the face portrait and attribute information corresponding to the predetermined number from the portrait storing unit based on the predetermined number,

an expression assignment information selected based on the call register information from the expression assignment information storing unit, and

the second face part image from the face part storing unit based on the expression assignment information.

3. An information device, comprising:

a portrait obtaining unit configured to obtain a face portrait of a user including a first face part image corresponding a first facial expression of the user, and attribute information of the face portrait, the attribute information including information related to a position of the first face part image in the face portrait, the face portrait and the attribute information being generated based on a predetermined algorithm from a facial image obtained by photographing the user;

a changing unit configured to obtain a second face part image corresponding to a second facial expression of the user and to replace the first face part image in the face portrait with the second face part image based on the attribute information, where a facial expression of the face portrait is selectively changed from the first facial expression to the second facial expression responsive to a selection of the second facial expression by the user,

a receiver configured to receive from another terminal the face portrait and attribute information, and expression assignment information specifying the facial expression of the face portrait;

a face part storing unit configured to store a plurality of face part images including the second face part image, correspondingly with a plurality of expression assignment information; and

a display configured to display the face portrait output from the changing unit, where

the changing unit obtains the second face part image from the face part storing unit based on the expression assignment information received.

5. An information device, comprising:

a portrait obtaining unit configured to obtain a face portrait of a user including a first face part image corresponding a first facial expression of the user, and attribute information of the face portrait, the attribute information including information related to a position of the first face part image in the face portrait, the face portrait and the attribute information being generated based on a predetermined algorithm from a facial image obtained by photographing the user;

a changing unit configured to obtain a second face part image corresponding to a second facial expression of the user and to replace the first face part image in the face portrait with the second face part image based on the attribute information, where a facial expression of the face portrait is selectively changed from the first facial expression to the second facial expression responsive to a selection of the second facial expression by the user,

a call receiver configured to receive a call from another information device having a predetermined number,

a receiver configured to receive the second face part image;

a portrait storing unit configured to store the face portrait and the attribute information correspondingly with the predetermined number; and

a display configured to display the face portrait output from the changing unit, where the changing unit obtains the face portrait and the attribute information corresponding to the predetermined number from the portrait storing unit when the call receiver receives the call from the other information device, and obtains the second face part image from the receiver.

6. An information device, comprising:

a photographing unit configured to photograph a facial image of a user;

a portrait generating unit configured to convert the facial image into binary data, project the converted data on a two dimensional coordinate system and generate a face portrait of the user based on the projected data, the face portrait including a face part image corresponding to a first facial expression of the user and attribute information of the face portrait where the attribute information includes information related to a position of the face part image in the face portrait; and

a first transmitter configured to transmit the face portrait and the attribute information, where the face part image is assigned a second facial expression responsive to a selection of the second facial expression by the user, and the second facial expression is displayed with the second facial expression responsive to execution of a call related operation correlated with the second facial expression as specified by the user at said selection.

7. An information device, comprising:

a photographing unit configured to photograph a facial image of a user;

a portrait generating unit configured to generate a face portrait of the user based on a predetermined algorithm from the facial image, the face portrait including a face part image corresponding to a first facial expression of the user and attribute information of the face portrait where the attribute information includes information related to a position of the face part image in the face portrait;

a first transmitter configured to transmit the face portrait and the attribute information, where the face part image is assigned to correspond to a second facial expression responsive to a selection of the second facial expression by the user;

an expression assignment information obtaining unit configured to obtain expression assignment information related to the facial expression of the face portrait, the facial expression being specified by the user; and

a second transmitter configured to transmit the expression assignment information, where the second facial expression is displayed.

8. An information device, comprising:

a face part storing unit configured to store a plurality of face part images corresponding to a plurality of expressions of a face portrait;

an expression assignment information obtaining unit configured to obtain expression assignment information related to a first facial expression of the face portrait, the first facial expression being specified by a user and obtained based on a position thereof with respect to the face portrait;

a face part obtaining unit configured to obtain a face part image corresponding to the expression assignment information from the face part storing unit based on the expression assignment information obtained; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the face part image obtained, where the obtained face part image is assigned a second facial expression responsive to a selection by the user from the plurality of expressions, and the second facial expression is displayed by changing a first face part image corresponding to the first facial expression to a second face part image corresponding to a second facial expression responsive to execution of a call related operation correlated with the second facial expression as specified by the user at said selection.

9. A method of processing an image via an information device, comprising:

said information device executing processing of the image including;

obtaining a face portrait of a user including a first face part image corresponding to a first facial expression of the user and attribute information of the face portrait, the attribute information indicating a position of the first face part image, a facial image being obtained by photographing the user, and converted into binary data, the converted data being projected on a two dimensional coordinate system, and the face portrait and the attribute information being generated based on the projected data; and

obtaining a second face part image corresponding to a second facial expression of the user and to replace the first face part image with the second face part image based on the attribute information, and

where a facial expression of the face portrait is selectively changed from the first facial expression to the second facial expression responsive to a selection of the second facial expression by the user, and displayed with the second facial expression responsive to execution of a call related operation correlated with the second facial expression as specified by the user at said selection.

10. A method of processing an image via an information device, comprising:

said information device executing processing of the image including;

photographing a facial image of a user;

converting the facial image into binary data, projecting the converted data on a two dimensional coordinate system and generating a face portrait of the user based on the projected data, the face portrait including a face part image corresponding to a first facial expression of the user and attribute information of the face portrait where the attribute information includes information related to a position of the face part image in the face portrait; and

transmitting the face portrait and the attribute information, where the face part image is assigned a second facial expression responsive to a selection of the second facial expression by the user, and the second facial expression is displayed with the second facial expression responsive to execution of a call related operation correlated with the second facial expression as specified by the user at said selection.

11. A method of processing an image via an information device, comprising:

said information device executing processing of the image including;

photographing a facial image of a user,

generating a face portrait of the user based on a predetermined algorithm from the facial image, the face portrait including a face part image corresponding to a first facial expression of the user and attribute information of the face portrait where the attribute information includes information related to a position of the face part image in the face portrait;

transmitting the face portrait and the attribute information, where the face part image is assigned to correspond to a second facial expression responsive to a selection of the second facial expression by the user,

obtaining expression assignment information related to the facial expression of the face portrait, the facial expression being specified by the user; and

transmitting the expression assignment information and displaying the second facial expression.

12. A method of processing an image via an information device, comprising:

said information device executing processing of the image including;

storing a plurality of face part images corresponding to a plurality of expressions of a face portrait;

obtaining expression assignment information related to a first facial expression of the face portrait, the first facial expression being specified by a user and obtained based on a position thereof with respect to the face portrait;

obtaining a face part image corresponding to the expression assignment information based on the expression assignment information obtained; and

transmitting the face part image obtained, where the obtained face part image is assigned a second facial expression responsive to a selection by the user from the plurality of expressions, and the second facial expression is displayed by changing a first face part image corresponding to the first facial expression to a second face part image corresponding to a second facial expression responsive to execution of a call related operation correlated with the second facial expression as specified by the user at said selection.