JP2000293702A - Device and method for preparing portrait and storage medium with program for executing method recorded thereon - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily prepare a portrait being similar to a desired person by preparing the portrait of the person on the basis of image recognition, the selection of portrait parts and retrieved personal information. SOLUTION: A personal information selection dialog box is displayed on a portrait editing picture on the basis of a personal information acquisition program 2-4-2, and an instruction input device 6 selects one desired person. Next, an age is calculated from data of birth data stored in a personal information storage area 3-7 and a date of a clocking device 9 on the basis of an age calculation program 2-4-3. Next, image data stored in an image data storage area 3-5, individual data stored in an individual information storage area 3-7 and an appropriate portrait part data are selected from a portrait part database 3-2 by referring to the calculated age on the basis of a portrait generation program 2-4-4, and portrait data is generated by sticking them to appropriate positions.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portrait creating apparatus for creating a portrait of a desired person from previously registered portrait parts in a personal computer, a word processor or the like. The present invention relates to a portrait creating apparatus that automates parameter setting and portrait component selection when creating a portrait by obtaining information such as gender. The present invention also relates to a portrait creating method and a storage medium storing a program for realizing the portrait creating method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a portrait creating apparatus, arbitrary portions such as a contour, a hair, eyes, and a nose of a person are previously stored in a storage device as a plurality of patterns, respectively, and these are combined to create a portrait electronically. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 7-239945 and 6-18
7410 and JP-A-10-240919. Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 7-239945 is an apparatus that has a plurality of patterns of face parts (parts) such as contours, eyes, and nose, selects an arbitrary pattern for each part, and combines them to create a portrait. By providing parameters such as age and gender, a caricature closer to the person is created. Adjust the position of parts such as contour, eyes, nose, etc. according to age and gender, increase `` wrinkles '' according to age, and according to human emotion parameters such as `` laughing '', `` angry '' It is possible to replace parts such as eyes, nose and the like.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-187410 discloses an image input device such as a scanner, which is used to input an image from a photograph or the like, extract the positions of eyes, nose, and the like. This is a configuration in which similar parts are created by selecting and combining similar parts from among (parts).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 10-240919 creates a portrait using the configuration of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 6-187410, but a database storing information based on specific rules such as facial expressions and the size of each part. By having
This is a configuration in which the created image can be further deformed.

[0005]

In the conventional portrait creation apparatus, the portrait creation apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-239945 needs to input parameters such as gender and age in order to create a closer portrait. Was. JP-A-6-1
The portrait creating apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 87410 can create a portrait more easily by using an image input device, but cannot correct each part by a parameter such as age. The portrait creating apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-240919 has a database of facial expressions and the size of each part. By using the database, the created portrait can be deformed. The parts could not be modified.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and has as its object to provide a portrait creating apparatus which can easily create a portrait close to a desired person. It is an object of the present invention to obtain information such as the age and gender of a desired person from the application, and to more easily create a portrait of the desired person. Further, according to the present invention, a portrait close to a desired person is created by increasing / decreasing “wrinkles”, increasing / decreasing “white hair” or retreating “hairline” by changing the age parameter (+ age / −age). The purpose is to: A further object of the present invention is to create a portrait in which clothes (body parts) can be changed by designating a season (spring, summer, autumn and winter) and an event (New Year / Christmas, etc.).

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a portrait creating means for creating a portrait by recognizing an image and selecting a portrait part, and a retrieval means for searching a database for personal information of a person who is to create the portrait. Wherein the portrait creating means creates a portrait of the person based on image recognition, selection of a portrait part, and the retrieved personal information.

[0008] The invention of claim 2 relates to the portrait creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the personal information is any or all of age, gender, height, and weight.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the portrait creating apparatus according to the first or second aspect, there is provided display means for displaying the created portrait, and changing means for changing each value of personal information. The portrait creation means corrects the created portrait based on the changed personal information, and the display means displays the corrected portrait.

The invention of claim 4 is a portrait creating means for creating a portrait by recognizing an image and selecting a portrait part,
Date and time input means for inputting date and time information, wherein the portrait generating means generates a portrait of a person for whom a portrait is to be generated based on the input date and time information.

[0011] According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a step of retrieving personal information of a person for whom a portrait is to be created from a database,
Generating a portrait by recognizing an image and selecting a portrait part based on the retrieved personal information.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portrait part data,
A program for retrieving personal information of a person for whom a portrait is to be created from a database, and a program for creating a portrait by recognizing an image and selecting a portrait part based on the retrieved personal information are recorded. And a computer-readable storage medium.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, the portrait processing function is incorporated in the word processor. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the word processor. Reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU (central control unit) that controls the entire word processor, and operates based on a control program stored in a program memory 2 and data stored in a data memory 3.

The program memory 2 has an external storage device 4
Alternatively, a control program read from the communication device 5 is stored. Details of the contents will be described later. The data memory 3 stores data read from the external storage device 4 or the communication device 5.
Has a data storage area necessary for executing the control program. Details of the contents will be described later.

The external storage device 4 is a CD-ROM device, a hard disk device or the like, and reads information stored in a storage medium such as a CD-ROM or a hard disk,
Information can be written to a storage medium. The communication device 5 is a modem or the like, and can communicate with another information processing device through a communication line. Reference numeral 6 denotes an instruction input device, such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a display-integrated pen tablet.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a display device such as a CRT or an LCD.
Documents and images can be displayed. Reference numeral 8 denotes an image input device such as a scanner or a video capture. Reference numeral 9 denotes a clock device that can obtain the current date and time.

The program memory 2 has an initial menu control program 2-1, a document editing program 2-2,
Address book editing program 2-3, caricature editing program 2
-4 is stored. Initial menu control program 2
-1 is a program that is executed immediately after the power of the word processor is turned on, displays an initial menu screen on the display device 7, and performs a process of starting a corresponding program in response to an instruction from the instruction input device 6. .

The document editing program 2-2 inputs document data from the instruction input device 6 (keyboard), the external storage device 4, and the communication device 5 and stores the document data in a document storage area 3-4 in the data memory 3. This is a program for performing the editing. The address book editing program 2-3 inputs personal information (address, name, date of birth, gender, height, weight, etc.) to the instruction input device 6 (keyboard), the external storage device 4, and the communication device 5.
Is stored in the personal information database 3-1 in the data memory 3 and edited.

The portrait editing program 2-4 receives an image of a face from the image input device 8, stores the image in the image data storage area 3-5 in the data memory 3, and displays the image on the display device 7. 4-1 and a personal information data acquisition program 2-4- for acquiring a part of personal information, for example, date of birth and gender, from the personal information database 3-1.
2, an age calculation program 2-4-3 for calculating the age from the acquired date of birth and the current date obtained from the timekeeping device 9.
And a face image stored in an image data storage area 3-5 in the data memory 3, a calculated age, the obtained gender, and information stored in the portrait part database. A portrait generating program 2-4-4 that generates an image and displays the image on the display device 7, and a portrait modifying program 2-4 that corrects the created portrait image
-5, and a portrait decoration program 2-4-6 for adding a decorative component to the created portrait image.

The data memory 3 includes a personal information database 3-1 storing personal information (address, name, date of birth, gender, height, weight, etc.) of each individual, and a portrait part for creating a portrait. Portrait parts database 3-2 storing contours, hairstyles, eyes, nose, mouth, etc.) and decoration parts database 3-3 storing decoration parts (clothes, hats, etc.) for decorating portraits. A document storage area 3-4 for storing document data input from the instruction input device 6, the external storage device 4, the communication device 5, and the like; and an image data storage for storing image data input from the image input device 8 and the like. Area 3-5, portrait data storage area 3-6 for storing the created portrait data, personal information storage area 3-7 for storing the personal information of the person selected from personal information database 3-1 It is configured.

FIG. 2 is a main flowchart showing the operation of the word processor. When the power of the word processor of this embodiment is turned on, an initial menu screen 101 as shown in FIG.
1). The initial menu screen 101 displays a document editing icon 102, an address book editing icon 103, a portrait editing icon 104, a communication icon 105, a function key display area 106, a current date 107, and the like.

Here, when the document editing icon 102 is instructed by the instruction input device 6 (S2), a document editing process is executed based on the document editing program 2-2 (S3). Note that the document editing process is not related to the gist of the present invention, and therefore the description is omitted. After the document editing process is completed, the process returns to the initial menu screen display process (S1).

When the address book edit icon 103 is instructed by the instruction input device 6 on the initial menu screen 101 (S4), an address book edit process is executed based on the address book edit program 2-3 (S5). . The address book editing process will be described later. After the address book editing processing is completed, the process returns to the initial menu screen display processing (S1).

When the portrait editing icon 104 is designated by the instruction input device 6 on the initial menu screen 101 (S6), the portrait editing process is executed based on the portrait editing program 2-4 (S7). The portrait editing process will be described later. After the portrait editing process ends, the process returns to the initial menu screen display process (S1).

When another instruction (communication icon 105 or function key display area 106) is instructed by the instruction input device 6, other processing is executed, and thereafter, the process returns to the initial menu screen display processing (S1). Note that the other processes are not related to the gist of the present invention, and thus the description is omitted. The above operation is repeated until the power of the word processor is turned off.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing details of the address book editing process (S5). The processing shown in this flowchart is realized according to the address book editing program 2-3. First, an address book menu screen 111 as shown in FIG.
Is displayed on the display device 7 (S11). Here, when the data addition input icon 112 is instructed by the instruction input device 6 (S12), a data input screen 121 as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed.

On the data input screen 121, a data input dialog box 122 and a layout display window 123 are displayed. The personal information data (address, name, gender, date of birth, etc.) input from the instruction input device 6 is stored in the personal information database 3-1 (S13). In addition, the weight, height, and the like may be input.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a data structure of the personal information database 3-1. Data serial number (N
o.) 3-1-1, destination 3-1-2 specifying a company address or a home address, postal code 3-1-3, address 3-1
4. Name 3-1-5, Reading name 3-1-6, Gender 3-
1-7, date of birth 3-1-8, and remarks 3-1-9 can be stored. In addition, weight, height, and the like may be stored. After the input of the personal information data is completed, the process returns to the address book menu display processing (S11) (S14).

When the data correction icon 113 is instructed by the instruction input device 6 on the address book menu screen 111 (S15), a list of personal information data stored in the personal information database 3-1 is displayed. The data selected from among them (S16) is corrected (S17).
The data is corrected on the same screen as the data input screen 121. After the correction of the personal information data is completed, the process returns to the address book menu display processing (S11) (S18).

When the print icon 114 is instructed by the instruction input device 6 on the address book menu screen 111 (S19), a list format is created based on the personal information data stored in the personal information database 3-1. And printing in a postcard address format (S20).
The process returns to the address book menu display processing (S11). Note that the printing process is not related to the gist of the present invention, and thus the description is omitted.

When the end icon 115 is instructed by the instruction input device 6 on the address book menu screen 111, the address book editing processing (S5) ends, and the process returns to the initial menu screen display processing (S1) (S21). ).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing details of the portrait editing process (S7). The processing shown in this flowchart is realized according to the portrait editing program 2-4. First, a portrait editing screen 131 as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the display device 7 (S31). Portrait edit screen 131
Include an image input icon 132 and an image edit icon 13
3. Caricature creation icon 134, end instruction icon 13
5. The image display area 136 and the like are displayed.

The image display area 136 displays the image data (bitmap data) stored in the image data storage area 3-5. Here, the image input icon 132
Is instructed by the instruction input device 6 (S32), based on the image input program 2-4-1, the image input device 8
(Scanner, video capture, etc.), and stores it in the image data storage area 3-5 (S3
3) Return to the portrait editing screen display process (S31) and display an image in the image display area 136.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the portrait editing screen 131 after inputting image data. The image display area 136 displays the bitmap image data stored in the image data storage area 3-5. In addition, portrait editing screen 13
1, the image editing icon 133 is
(S34), the process proceeds to the image editing process (S35). In the image editing process, for example, enlargement of an image,
Processing such as reduction, trimming, and edge enhancement can be performed. Note that the image editing process is a well-known technique, and thus a detailed description is omitted. After the image editing process is completed, the process returns to the portrait editing screen display process (S31).

On the portrait editing screen 131, when the portrait creation icon 134 is instructed by the instruction input device 6 (S36), the flow shifts to portrait creation processing (S3).
7). Detailed description of the portrait creation process will be described later. After the portrait creation processing is completed, or when the end instruction icon 135 is instructed by the instruction input device 6 on the portrait editing screen 131 (YES in S38), the portrait editing processing is terminated and the initial menu screen display processing (S1) Return to).

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a portrait drawing process (S3).
It is the flowchart which showed the detail of 7). The processing shown in this flowchart is realized according to the portrait editing program 2-4.

First, based on the personal information acquisition program 2-4-2, a personal information selection dialog box 137 is displayed on the portrait editing screen 131 as shown in FIG.
The user is caused to select a desired one from the list by the instruction input device 6 (S41). The personal information selection dialog box 137 contains a personal information database 3-1.
Of the personal information (see FIG. 7) stored therein (data excluding an address and the like) is displayed. The personal information (sex, date of birth, height, weight, etc.) of the selected person is stored in the personal information storage area 3-7.

Next, based on the age calculation program 2-4-3, the date of birth data in the personal information stored in the personal information storage area 3-7 and the present date input from the clock 9 are used. The age is calculated (S42).

When a portrait of a person not stored in the personal information database 3-1 is desired to be created, apart from the above processing (S41, S42), the gender and age (and height and weight) are simply input by the instruction input device 6. It is good to perform the process of inputting from the.

Next, based on the portrait drawing program 2-4-4, the image data stored in the image data storage area 3-5 and the personal data (sex, height, etc.) stored in the personal information storage area 3-7. , Body weight) and the age calculated in S42 are referred to, and appropriate portrait parts data is selected from the portrait parts database 3-2 and pasted at an appropriate position to generate portrait data (S43). The generated portrait data is stored in the portrait data storage area 3-6.

Since the portrait generating technique is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 6-187410, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. (Note that the contour of the face and the unevenness of the cheek are determined by the height and weight.) May be done). Next, the portrait data stored in the portrait data storage area 3-6 is displayed on the display device 7 (S44).

FIG. 14 is a view showing the portrait editing screen 131 after the portrait data is displayed. In FIG. 14, reference numeral 138 denotes a portrait display area displaying the generated portrait. 139 is a portrait generating program 2-4-
4 is a portrait part selection area for changing each part of the portrait generated by step 4 to a portrait part specified by the user. In FIG. 14, the eye part selection tag 139-1 has been selected.

In steps 106-1 to 106-4, the conditions for generating portraits (age and gender) are changed and the portrait generation processing (S
43) is a function key display area for executing a season, and 106-5 is a function key display area for selecting a season. By choosing the season
When adding decorative parts such as clothes and hats to portraits, the options can be narrowed down.

Reference numeral 140 denotes a season display area for displaying a selected season, which will be described later. In FIG. 14, "no designation" is displayed because the season has not yet been selected. It should be noted that today's date may be acquired from the timekeeping device 9 and a season according to the date may be automatically selected and displayed.

Reference numeral 106-6 denotes a print instruction function key display area for printing the generated portrait by a printer (not shown), and reference numeral 106-7 denotes an end instruction function key display area for ending the portrait creation processing.

When the portrait parts selection area 139 is designated by the instruction input device 6 (S45), the corresponding portrait parts stored in the portrait data storage area 3-6 are changed to the designated portrait parts (step S45). S46). Then S44
And returns the changed portrait data to the portrait display area 13.
8 is displayed. When a clothing part, a hat part, and a glasses part, which will be described later, are designated, processing for adding the designated part to the portrait data is performed.

When the personal information change function key display area 106-1 is instructed by the instruction input device 6 (S4
7) The personal information selection dialog box 137 as shown in FIG. 13 is displayed, and the user is made to make a selection (S4).
8). Thereafter, the process returns to S42, and the portrait is generated and displayed again with reference to the changed personal information (sex) and the calculated age.

Age addition function key display area 10
6-2 is instructed by the instruction input device 6 (S4
9), a predetermined number (for example, 5
Etc.), the process returns to S43, and a portrait is generated and displayed again. 15 shows the state of the portrait editing screen 131 after pressing the age addition function key display area 106-2 from the state of FIG. 14, and FIG. 16 further presses the age addition function key display area 106-2 from the state of FIG. This shows the state of the portrait editing screen 131 later. Each time the age is added, the number of wrinkles increases, and the amount of hair decreases (hairline recedes). Also, the amount of gray hair may be increased.

Age subtraction function key display area 10
6-3 is instructed by the instruction input device 6 (S5
1), a predetermined number (for example, 5) from the age calculated in S42
Etc.), the process returns to S43, and a portrait is generated and displayed again. When the age is subtracted, FIG. 16 → FIG. 15 → FIG.
It changes like

Age input function key display area 10
6-4 is instructed by the instruction input device 6 (S5
3), an age input dialog box 141 is displayed as shown in FIG. After that, the process returns to S43 to generate and display the portrait again.

Season selection function key display area 10
6-5 is instructed by the instruction input device 6 (S5
5) As shown in FIG. 18, a season selection dialog box 142 is displayed, and a season or an event is selected from the instruction input device 6 (S56). If a season or event is selected here, the portrait parts selection area 13
When the user designates the clothing part selection tag 139-2 or the hat part selection tag 139-3 (see FIG. 19), the options can be narrowed down (S57).

For example, when the season is specified as “winter”, when the clothing parts selection tag 139-2 in the portrait part selection area 139 is specified, only winter clothes are displayed in a list. In order to realize this function, it is assumed that each piece of clothing part data and hat data in the decorative part database 3-3 has attributes such as a season and an event in advance.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a state in which the season is designated as summer and the clothing parts selection tag 139-2 is selected. In the portrait part selection area 139, only summer clothing parts are displayed in a list. Here, when one of the displayed clothing parts is instructed by the instruction input device 6, the selected clothing part is added to the portrait image displayed in the portrait display area 138 as shown in FIG. Display in combination. Similarly, when a hat part is designated, the hat part is displayed in combination with the portrait image.

Print instruction function key display area 10
6-6 is instructed by the instruction input device 6 (S5
8) The portrait image is printed by a printer (not shown) (S59). End instruction function key display area 10
When 6-7 is instructed by the instruction input device 6 (YES in S60), the portrait creation / editing process (S37) ends,
The process returns to the initial menu screen display processing (S1).

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When creating a portrait of a desired person, by obtaining and using information such as gender and age from a database used by other application software, the setting of each parameter and selection of portrait parts are automated, and Caricatures can be created more easily and quickly.

If parameters such as age, gender and date cannot be obtained from another application or if it is desired to change them, the respective parameters are input.
Alternatively, it can be changed and modified.

Further, even after the portrait is created, by changing the set values of the parameters such as age, the additional data such as "wrinkles" may be increased or decreased, the "white hair" may be increased or decreased, or the "hairline" may be retreated. A portrait close to the desired person can be created.

After creating a portrait, it is possible to narrow down options such as clothes (body parts) and hats by designating seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter) and events (New Year / Christmas, etc.), and easily perform various portraits. Can be created.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a word processor incorporating a portrait drawing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a main flowchart showing processing of a word processor.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a display example of an initial menu screen of a word processor.

FIG. 4 is a detailed flowchart of an address book editing process.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a display example of an address book menu screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of an address book data input screen.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a personal information database.

FIG. 8 is a detailed flowchart of a portrait editing process screen.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a display example of a portrait editing screen.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a display example of a portrait editing screen after inputting image data.

FIG. 11 is a detailed flowchart of a portrait creation process.

FIG. 12 is a detailed flowchart (continuation) of a portrait drawing process.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a display example of a personal information selection screen.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a display example of a portrait editing screen after portrait creation.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a display example of a portrait editing screen after the age is increased.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a display example of a portrait editing screen after the age is further increased.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a display example of an age input screen.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a season selection screen.

FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a display example of a clothing selection screen after a season is selected.

FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a display example after clothing is pasted on a portrait.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... CPU, 2 ... Program memory, 3 ... Data memory, 4 ... External storage device, 5 ... Communication device, 6 ... Instruction input device, 7 ... Display device, 8 ... Image input device, 9 ... Clock device.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Watanabe School Inventor F-term (reference) in 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 5B050 AA09 BA06 BA08 BA12 DA01 EA19 FA02 FA08 5B057 AA20 CA12 CA16 CB12 CB16 CC03 CE08 CE20 5B075 ND06 NS10 PP02 PP03 PP13 PQ02 5E501 AA02 AC15 AC34 BA03 BA14 CA03 CA04 CB02 CB06 CB09 DA15 EA05 EA11 EB05 FA14 FA43

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A portrait creation means for creating a portrait by recognizing an image and selecting a portrait part, and a search means for searching a database for personal information of a person for whom the portrait is to be created, wherein the portrait creation means comprises: A portrait drawing apparatus for generating a portrait of the person based on the recognition of the character, selection of a portrait part, and the retrieved personal information. 2. The portrait creating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said personal information is any or all of age, gender, height, and weight. 3. The portrait creating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a display unit that displays the created portrait, and a changing unit that changes each value of personal information. A caricature creation device, wherein the caricature created is corrected based on the changed personal information, and the display means displays the corrected caricature. 4. A caricature creating means for creating a caricature by recognizing an image and selecting a caricature part, and date and time input means for inputting date and time information, wherein the caricature creating means, based on the input date and time information, A portrait creating apparatus for creating a portrait of a person whose portrait is to be created. 5. A step of retrieving personal information of a person for whom a portrait is to be created from a database, and a step of creating a portrait by recognizing an image and selecting a portrait part based on the retrieved personal information. A portrait creation method characterized by the following. 6. A caricature part data, a program for retrieving personal information of a person for whom a caricature is to be created from a database, and a caricature is created by recognizing an image and selecting a caricature part based on the retrieved personal information. A computer-readable storage medium characterized in that a program is written.