Method and apparatus for generating models of individuals

• US 7,266,251 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2002
• Issued: 09/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Simon Michael Rowe
• Original Assignee: Simon Michael Rowe
• Inventors: Rowe, Simon Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi; Amir
• Application Number:
  US10/301,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20030099409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,747 Days
• Field of Search: 382/285, 382/190, 382/199, 382/154, 345/420, 345/426, 345/582
• US Class Current: 382/285
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/10 Constructive solid geometry [CSG] using solid primitives, e.g. cylinders, cubes

Abstract

A communications system is described in which a plurality of mobile phones are provided, each including means for generating a user interface for enabling users to identify points in images as feature points. All of the phones are then operable to utilise points identified by users to generate 3D models of individuals in the images. The 3D models are generated by associating stored average depth data for points corresponding to the co-ordinates of the feature points and further points whose position is identified relative to the co-ordinates of the feature points. The 3D models are then used to generate images which are displayed on the mobile phones.

Claims

1. A mobile electronic apparatus for generating 3D models of individuals from 2D images, said apparatus comprising:

a data store operable to store a 3D model defining relative 3D locations of a plurality of points on a surface of a generic individual;

a feature identifier operable to process 2D images of individuals to identify a number of points in said 2D images as 2D co-ordinate locations of a number of features of said individuals in said 2D images;

a modelling unit operable to process said 2D images of individuals and said identified 2D co-ordinate locations of features to generate 3D models of said individuals, said modelling unit being operable to generate said 3D models by associating said identified 2D co-ordinate locations of features with data indicative of relative 3D locations for said features, determined by utilising the relative 3D locations of corresponding features defined by the 3D model stored in said data store; and

a communicating unit having a transmitter unit which is able to connect to a wireless network and which is operable to transmit 3D models by transmitting 2D co-ordinates and 2D images of individuals, said 2D co-ordinates being identified in said 2D images by said feature identifier.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said modelling unit is operable to process said 2D images of individuals and said identified 2D co-ordinate locations of features by identifying a plurality of points in said 2D images relative to the positions of groups of said identified 2D co-ordinate locations and to associate said plurality of points with data indicative of relative 3D locations utilising the relative 3D locations of points on the surface of a generic individual in defined positions relative to groups of said corresponding features defined by a 3D model stored in said data store.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said modelling unit is operable to generate 3D models of individuals wherein said feature identifier is operable to identify points in said 2D images corresponding to points outlining any of the face, eyes, nose, eyebrows or mouth of an individual in said 2D images.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said feature identifier comprises a user interface enabling a user to input co-ordinate data identifying 2D co-ordinate locations of said features of individuals in said 2D images.

5. Apparatus in accordance wit claim 1, wherein said data store stores a 3D model defining the relative 3D locations of an average position of a plurality of points on the surface of a group of individuals.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said data store is operable to store a plurality of 3D models defining the relative 3D locations of positions of a plurality of points on the surface of a plurality of individuals, and said modelling unit further comprises a selection unit for selecting from a plurality of 3D models stored in said data store, a 3D model to be utilised to generate a 3D model for an individual.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said modelling unit is operable to determine the orientation of an individual in an image and to process identified co-ordinate locations to determine corresponding 2D co-ordinates in a predefined plane, wherein said generation of 3D models comprises associating depth data with said 2D co-ordinates in said predefined plane.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver operable to receive 2D co-ordinates and 2D images of individuals, wherein said modelling unit is operable to generate models utilising data received by said receiver.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein said apparatus further comprises a display, said apparatus being arranged to display images generated utilising said models generated by said modelling unit upon receipt of data by said receiver.