GB2424332A - An image processing system - Google Patents

An image processing system Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2424332A
GB2424332A GB0427312A GB0427312A GB2424332A GB 2424332 A GB2424332 A GB 2424332A GB 0427312 A GB0427312 A GB 0427312A GB 0427312 A GB0427312 A GB 0427312A GB 2424332 A GB2424332 A GB 2424332A
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United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
facial image
image
facial
processing system
features
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0427312A
Other versions
GB0427312D0 (en
Inventor
Mark Charles Spittle
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB0427312A priority Critical patent/GB2424332A/en
Publication of GB0427312D0 publication Critical patent/GB0427312D0/en
Publication of GB2424332A publication Critical patent/GB2424332A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
    • H04N5/222—Studio circuitry; Studio devices; Studio equipment
    • H04N5/262—Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects
    • H04N5/2628—Alteration of picture size, shape, position or orientation, e.g. zooming, rotation, rolling, perspective, translation
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
    • H04M1/724—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
    • H04M1/72403—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
    • H04M1/72427—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality for supporting games or graphical animations
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/00127—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
    • H04N1/00132—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 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
    • H04N1/00137—Transmission
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/00127—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
    • H04N1/00132—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 in a digital photofinishing system, i.e. a system where digital photographic images undergo typical photofinishing processing, e.g. printing ordering
    • H04N1/00167—Processing or editing
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
    • H04M1/724—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
    • H04M1/72403—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
    • H04M1/7243—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality with interactive means for internal management of messages
    • H04M1/72439—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality with interactive means for internal management of messages for image or video messaging
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/00127—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
    • H04N1/00281—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 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal
    • H04N1/00307—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 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal with a mobile telephone apparatus

Abstract

An image processing system comprises at least one cellular camera phone, and remote electronic processing means arranged to derive a facial image from features of a first facial image received from the at least one phone, and from a second facial image. The first and second images may be of adults of opposing gender, both captured by a camera phone, or the second facial image being chosen from an image library. Preferably, the derived facial image is a child's having a user variable proportional likeness to the adults, and is preferably animated to show an aging process. The child's gender and age may be selected by the user. A facial image of the second adult may be derived features of a child's image and another adult image. All three images may be displayed at the same time. A 3D camera may be used so that the derived image can be viewed from different angles. A cellular phone, electronic processing means and software for operating each of these are claimed independently.

Description

Distributed Image-Processing System The present invention relates to a
distributed image processing system and, more particularly to a distributed image processing system for processing facial images.
It is now becoming commonplace for cellular phones to be fitted with digital cameras and high-resolution display means for viewing images captured via those cameras, so- called "camera-phones".
However, at present, this functionality is being under-utilised in providing entertainment for cellular phone users.
I have now devised an arrangement for realising the potential of cameraphones for providing entertainment for the users of those phones.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a distributed image processing system comprising at least one cellular phone comprising a camera for acquiring a facial image and remote electronic processing means arranged to receive a first facial image from said at least one cellular phone, to derive from the features of the first facial image and from the features of a second facial image a third facial image and to transmit the third facial image to said at least one cellular phone.
The second facial image may also be received from the same cellular phone as that from which the first facial image is received or from a second cellular phone or may comprise a library image, preferably selected from a plurality of such images via the usor interface of the cellular phone.
In a first preferred embodiment, the electronic processing means are arranged to combine the features of the facial images of two adults, preferably of opposite gender, such that the resulting image is one of a child having a combination of the features of the facial images of the two adults. Preferably, the electronic processing means are arranged to allow the selection of the gender and/or apparent age of the combined facial image via the user interface of said at least one cellular phone.
The electronic processing means may be arranged to derive an animated facial image from its combination of the first and second facial images, for example one of a person, having a combination of the features of the first and second facial images, undergoing a simulated ageing process.
The electronic processing means may be arranged to introduce an element of randomness into its derivation of the third facial image, such that a slightly different facial image is produced each time that two particular facial images are processed.
The electronic processing means may be arranged to vary the proportional likeness of the third facial image to each of the first and second facial images, the relative proportions preferably being selected via the user interface of said at least one cellular phone.
In a second preferred embodiment, the electronic processing means are arranged to derive, from the features of a facial image of a first adult and those of a facial image of a child, the image of a second adult, preferably of the opposite gender to the first adult, such that the image of the child might be obtained by a combination of the features of the facial images of the two adults.
Preferably said camera comprises a three-dimensional camera for capturing a three-dimensional facial image.
Low cost three-dimensional cameras suitable for this purpose have recently been developed by PMD Technologies and Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique.
The PMD Technologies and Centre Suisse dtElectronique et de Microtechnique cameras rely on the time-of-flight principle and use a CMOS sensor and pulsed active illumination to generate a 3D image. The systems function by measuring the phase shift between a reference signal sent directly to the detector's smart pixels and light reflected by the scene. Crucially, each pixel is able to compute the phase difference directly on-board the sensor chip. This built-in functionality means that the sensor can pre-process the signal, removing the need for expensive high-speed electronics. Relating the phase difference measured by each pixel to the speed of light gives the distance traveled by light failing onto the detector.
Information from all the pixels is then brought together to create a 3D image.
In this case, Lhe electronic processing means may be arranged to derive a three-dimensional facial image, viewable from a number of different angles.
The apparatus may be arranged such that said third facial image is displayed by said at least one ceLlular phone as part of a simulated scene, which scene may also comprise the two facial images from which the third facial image is derived.
According to a second aspect of the presenL invention, there is provided electronic processing means arranged to receive a first facial image from a ceiJuJar phone, to derive from the features of the first facial image and from the features of a second facial image a third facial image and to transmit the third facial image to the cellular phone.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cellular phone comprising a camera and arranged to be operated to acquire a first facial image, to transmit the first facial image to remote electronic processing means and to receive from the remote electronic processing means a facial image derived from the features of the first facial image and from the features of a second facial image.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided software for operating electronic processing means to receive a first facial image from a cellular phone, to derive from the features of the first facial image and from the features of a second facial image a third facial image and to transmit the third facial image to the cellular phone.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided software for operating a cellular phone to acquire a first facial image, to transmit the first facial image to remote electronic processing means and to receive from the remote electronic processing means a facial image derived from the features of the first facial image and from the features of a second facial image.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a distributed image processing system in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is an illustration of a first preferred image processing operation of the system of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is an illustration of a second preferred image processing operation of the system.
Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, an distributed image processing system is shown comprising a plurality of cellular phones 2, each comprising a respective camera 4 for acquiring a facial image and remote electronic processing means 6 arranged to receive two facial images from one or other of the cellular phones 2, to derive from the features of the two facial images a third facial image and to transmit the third facial image back to the cellular phone from which the images originated.
Referring to Figure 2, a first preferred mode of functionality of the system of Figure 1 is illustrated, wherein respective facial images of two adults 8,10 are transmitted from a cellular phone 12 to the electronic processing means 6, which combines the two images 8,10 to return to the cellular phone 12 the facial image of a child 14, of an age and gender selected by the phone user via the user interface, e.g. the keypad 16 of the phone, the child having a combination of the features of the two adults, in respective proportions also selected by the user of the phone via the phone's user interface.
Referring to Figure 3 of the drawings, a second preferred mode of functionality of the system of Figure 1 is shown, wherein a facial image of a first adult 18 is transmitted from a cellular phone 20 to the electronic processing means 6, which derives from the features of that image and from the features of a facial image of a child 22, selected by the phone user from a plurality of library images of children, the facial image of a person 24, of the opposite gender to the first adult, with whose features the features of the facial image of the first adult 18 might be combined to obtain the facial features of the selected child 22.
The apparatus and methods thus described provide entertainment for users of so called "camera-phones".

Claims (28)

  1. Claims 1) A distributed image processing system comprising at least one
    cellular phone comprising a camera for acquiring a facial image and remote electronic processing means arranged to receive a first facial image from said at least one cellular phone, to derive from the features of the first facial image and from the features of a second facial image a third facial image and to transmit the third facial image to said at least one cellular phone.
  2. 2) A distributed image processing system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said second facial image is received from the same cellular phone as that from which the first facial image is received.
  3. 3) A distributed image processing system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said second facial image is received from a second cellular phone.
  4. 4) A distributed image processing system as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said second facial image comprises a library image.
  5. 5) A distributed image processing system as claimed in Claim 4, wherein said library image is selected from a plurality of such images via the user interface of the cellular phone.
  6. 6) A distributed image processing system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the electronic processing means are arranged to combine the features of the facial images of two adults.
  7. 7) A distributed image processing system as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the electronic processing means are arranged to combine the features of the facial images of two adults of opposite gender, such that the resulting image is one of a child having a combination of the features of the facial images of the two adults.
  8. 8) A distributed image processing system as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the electronic processing means are arranged to allow the selection of the gender of the combined facial image via the user interface of said at least one cellular phone.
  9. 9) A distributed image processing system as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 8, wherein the electronic processing means are arranged to allow the selection of the apparent age of the combined facial image via the user interface of said at least one cellular phone.
  10. 10) A distributed image processing system as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 9, wherein the electronic processing means are arranged to derive an animated facial image from its combination of the first and second facial images.
  11. 11) A distributed image processing system as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the animated facial image comprises one of a person, having a combination of the features of the first and second facial images, undergoing a simulated age.ing process.
  12. 12) A distributed image processing system as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 11, wherein the electronic processing means are arranged to introduce an element of randomness into its derivation of the third facial image, such that a slightly different facial image is produced each time that two particular facial images are processed.
  13. 13) A distributed image processing system as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 12, wherein the electronic processing means are arranged to vary the proportional likeness of the third facial image to each of the first and second facial images.
  14. 14) A distributed image processing system as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the proportional likeness of the third facial image to each of the first and second images is selected via the user interface of said at least one cellular phone.
  15. 15) A distributed image processing system as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the electronic processing means are arranged to derive, from the features of a facial image of a first adult and those of a facial image of a child, the image of a second adult.
  16. 16) A distributed image processing system as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the electronic processing means are arranged to derive, from the features of a facial image of a first adult and those of a facial image of a child, the image of a second adult, of the opposite gender to the first adult, such that the image of the child might be obtained by a combination of the features of the facial images of the two adults.
  17. 17) A distributed image processing system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said camera comprises a three-dimensional camera for capturing a three- dimensional facial image.
  18. 18) A distributed image processing system as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the electronic processing are
    C
    arranged to derive a three-dimensional facial image, viewable from a number of different angles.
  19. 19) A distributed image processing system as claimed in any preceding claim, arranged such that said third facial image is displayed by said at least one cellular phone as part of a simulated scene.
  20. 20) A distributed image processing system as claimed in Claim 19, wherein said simulated scene also comprises the two facial images from which the third facial image is derived.
  21. 21) Electronic processing means arranged to receive a first facial image from a cellular phone, to derive from the features of the first facial image and from the features of a second facial image a third facial image and to transmit the third facial image to the cellular phone.
  22. 22) A cellular phone comprising a camera and arranged to be operated to acquire a first facial image, to transmit the first facial image to remote electronic processing means and to receive from the remote electronic processing means a facial image derived from the features of the first facial image and from the features of a second facial image.
  23. 23) Software for operating electronic processing means to receive a first facial image from a cellular phone, to derive from the features of the first facial image and from the features of a second facial image a third facial image and to transmit the third facial image to the cellular phone.
  24. 24) Software for operating a cellular phon.e to acquire a first facial image, to transmit the first facial image to remote electronic processing means and to ifl iV receive from the remote electronic processing means a facial image derived from the features of the first facial image and from the features of a second facial image.
  25. 25) A distributed image processing system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  26. 26) Electronic processing means substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  27. 27) A cellular phone substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  28. 28) Software substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB0427312A 2004-12-13 2004-12-13 An image processing system Withdrawn GB2424332A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0427312A GB2424332A (en) 2004-12-13 2004-12-13 An image processing system

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0427312A GB2424332A (en) 2004-12-13 2004-12-13 An image processing system

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GB0427312D0 GB0427312D0 (en) 2005-01-19
GB2424332A true GB2424332A (en) 2006-09-20

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Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20180276869A1 (en) * 2017-03-21 2018-09-27 The Procter & Gamble Company Methods For Age Appearance Simulation
US20180276883A1 (en) * 2017-03-21 2018-09-27 Canfield Scientific, Incorporated Methods and apparatuses for age appearance simulation
US10574883B2 (en) 2017-05-31 2020-02-25 The Procter & Gamble Company System and method for guiding a user to take a selfie
US10818007B2 (en) 2017-05-31 2020-10-27 The Procter & Gamble Company Systems and methods for determining apparent skin age
US11055762B2 (en) 2016-03-21 2021-07-06 The Procter & Gamble Company Systems and methods for providing customized product recommendations

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH10228546A (en) * 1997-12-26 1998-08-25 Casio Comput Co Ltd Display device
US5850463A (en) * 1995-06-16 1998-12-15 Seiko Epson Corporation Facial image processing method and facial image processing apparatus
GB2384384A (en) * 2001-12-21 2003-07-23 Nec Corp Portable equipment with camera devices
JP2003242480A (en) * 2002-02-14 2003-08-29 Sony Communication Network Corp Image processing method and server using the method

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5850463A (en) * 1995-06-16 1998-12-15 Seiko Epson Corporation Facial image processing method and facial image processing apparatus
JPH10228546A (en) * 1997-12-26 1998-08-25 Casio Comput Co Ltd Display device
GB2384384A (en) * 2001-12-21 2003-07-23 Nec Corp Portable equipment with camera devices
JP2003242480A (en) * 2002-02-14 2003-08-29 Sony Communication Network Corp Image processing method and server using the method

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11055762B2 (en) 2016-03-21 2021-07-06 The Procter & Gamble Company Systems and methods for providing customized product recommendations
US20180276869A1 (en) * 2017-03-21 2018-09-27 The Procter & Gamble Company Methods For Age Appearance Simulation
US20180276883A1 (en) * 2017-03-21 2018-09-27 Canfield Scientific, Incorporated Methods and apparatuses for age appearance simulation
CN110326034A (en) * 2017-03-21 2019-10-11 宝洁公司 Method for the simulation of age appearance
US10614623B2 (en) * 2017-03-21 2020-04-07 Canfield Scientific, Incorporated Methods and apparatuses for age appearance simulation
US10621771B2 (en) * 2017-03-21 2020-04-14 The Procter & Gamble Company Methods for age appearance simulation
CN110326034B (en) * 2017-03-21 2022-07-08 宝洁公司 Method for age appearance simulation
US10574883B2 (en) 2017-05-31 2020-02-25 The Procter & Gamble Company System and method for guiding a user to take a selfie
US10818007B2 (en) 2017-05-31 2020-10-27 The Procter & Gamble Company Systems and methods for determining apparent skin age

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Publication number Publication date
GB0427312D0 (en) 2005-01-19

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