Apparatus and method for identifying a name corresponding to a face or voice using a database

• US 8,090,159 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2010
• Issued: 01/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TrackThings LLC
• Original Assignee: TrackThings LLC
• Inventors: Gabara, Constance Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Samir
• Assistant Examiner(s): Li, Ruiping
• Application Number:
  US12/781,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20100219936A1
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 382/116, 382/118, 382/115
• US Class Current: 382/116
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/16 Human faces, e.g. facial parts, sketches or expressions
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/00 Speaker identification or verification techniques

Abstract

The basic invention uses biometric signals to help identify the name of a family member, acquaintance or newly met individual. The biometric signals include facial and voice recognition. In addition, the invention can interactively produce the name of an individual met for the first time just after that individual shakes your hand and introduces themselves. Most people forget this name since they are concentrating on maintaining a conversation. An earphone plug can physically connect the handheld unit to the ear canal of the user and the identity of the individual is electronically passed over the wire to the user. A handheld unit identifies the individual and whispers their name into the ear canal. An earphone is physically connected to the handheld unit via a wire. This allows the identity of the individual to be electronically passed over the wire to the user. By touching the portable unit which is inserted into the ear canal, the name is whispered into the canal. All these identification procedures can be used to help eliminate an embarrassing moment which may occur if the user is unable to recall an individual'"'"'s name.

Claims

1. A portable device apparatus comprising:

at least one component that can capture biometrics of an individual,

a database storing the biometrics as data;

wherein the biometrics can be a facial image or a voice print;

a recognition unit that compares the captured biometrics to a contents held by the database; and

a positive comparison provides an identity of the individual to a user;

whereby

the identity of the individual can be electronically passed over a wire physically connected to an earphone that audibly introduces the identity of the individual into an ear canal of the user to avoid an embarrassing moment between the user and the individual.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the identity of the individual can be secretly transferred to the user.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the identity of the individual can be displayed on a display screen.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the portable device can fit in the ear canal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless interface to access additional external databases.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

the portable device can fit in a pair of glasses.

7. A method of identifying a face in a database using a portable device comprising the steps of:

scanning an image into a camera;

finding the face in the image;

placing approximate boundaries around the face;

using a recognition unit to compare the face to a contents held by the database;

storing the face in the image into the database if needed;

marking the face with an identity; and

identifying the face in the database;

such that

the identity of the individual can be electronically passed over a wire physically connected to an earphone that audibly introduces into an ear canal of the user the identity of the individual.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

extracting the face from the database in a later comparison to provide the user with the identity of the face.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein

the identity of the face can be secretly transferred to the user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein

an embarrassing moment between the user and the individual can be avoided.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein

the identity of the individual can be displayed on a display screen.

12. A method of storing voices using a portable device comprising the steps of:

recording at least one voice into the device;

marking the voice with an identity;

storing the voice with the identity into a database if needed;

recording a newer voice;

comparing the newer voice to a stored voice in the database; and

providing a user the identity of an individual matching the newer voice;

whereby

the identity of the individual can be electronically passed over a wire physically connected to an earphone that audibly introduces into an ear canal of the user the identity of the individual.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

secretly transferring the identity of the individual to the user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein

an embarrassing moment between the user and the individual can be avoided.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein

the identity of the individual can be displayed on a display screen.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein

the portable device can fit in the ear canal.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

tapping the portable device so the identity of the individual can be audibly introduced into the ear canal of the user.

18. A method of identifying a voice in a database using a portable device comprising the steps of:

recording a voice into the portable device;

using a recognition unit to compare the voice to a contents held by the database;

marking the voice with an identity; and

identifying the voice in the database;

such that

the identity of the voice can be electronically passed over a wire physically connected to an earphone that audibly introduces into an ear canal of the user the identity of the voice.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

secretly transferring the identity of the voice of an individual to the user.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein

an embarrassing moment between the user and the individual can be avoided.