Face authentication apparatus and face authentication method

Abstract

A face authentication apparatus uses a facial region detecting section to detect an image of a facial region of an authentication target person based on each of a plurality of images supplied from a camera that continuously shoots a predetermined target range, uses an authenticating section to authenticate the authentication target person based on a facial image detected from each image captured by the camera, uses a state estimating section to estimate a state of the authentication target person based on the facial image detected from each image captured by the camera, determines a guidance in accordance with the estimated state of the authentication target person, and outputs the guidance to a display device or an audio guidance device from an output section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing a structural example of a face authentication apparatus according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a view showing a setting example of display contents in accordance with a facial size and a variation in the facial size;

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a first display example based on a facial size and a variation in the facial size;

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining a second display example based on a facial size and a variation in the facial size;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining display control according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a view schematically showing a structural example of a face authentication apparatus according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a view showing a structural example of an electric bulletin board as an example of a display device;

FIG. 8 is a view showing a structural example of a projector as an example of the display device;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a setting example of display contents in accordance with a facial direction;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a first processing example according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a schematic view for explaining an angle formed between a position of a walker and a camera;

FIG. 12 is a view showing a change in a camera shooting direction with respect to a change in a position of a walker;

FIG. 13 is a view for explaining estimation of a facial direction in accordance with a change in a position of a walker;

FIG. 14 is a view showing a setting example of display contents in accordance with a position of a walker; and

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining a second processing example according to the second embodiment.

Claims

1. A face authentication apparatus comprising: a face detecting section that detects a facial image of an authentication target person from each of a plurality of images supplied from a shooting device that continuously shoots a predetermined shooting range;a state estimating section that estimates a state of the authentication target person based on the facial image detected from each image by the face detecting section;an output section that outputs a guidance in accordance with the state of the authentication target person estimated by the state estimating section; andan authenticating section that authenticates the authentication target person based on the facial image detected from each image by the face detecting section.

2. The face authentication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a measuring section that measures a facial size based on the facial image detected from each image by the face detecting section, wherein the state estimating section estimates a state of the authentication target person based on the facial size measured by the measuring section.

3. The face authentication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output section outputs a guidance that urges the authentication target person to perform an operation in accordance with the state of the authentication target person estimated by the state estimating section.

4. The face authentication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output section outputs display information required to display information that urges the authentication target person to perform a desired operation in an electric bulletin board installed in a passage along which the authentication target person should walk in accordance with the state of the authentication target person estimated by the state estimating section.

5. The face authentication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the output section outputs display information required to display information that urges the authentication target person to perform a desired operation on a floor where the authentication target person should pass by using a projector in accordance with the state of the authentication target person estimated by the state estimating section.

6. The face authentication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a direction estimating section that estimates a facial direction based on a facial image detected from each image by the face detecting section,wherein the state estimating section estimates a state of the authentication target person based on the facial direction estimated by the direction estimating section.

7. The face authentication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the output section outputs a guidance that urges the authentication target person to perform an operation in accordance with the state of the authentication target person estimated based on the facial direction by the state estimating section.

8. The face authentication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the output section outputs display information required to display information that urges the authentication target person to perform a desired operation in an electric bulletin board installed along a passage where the authentication target person should pass in accordance with the state of the authentication target person estimated by the state estimating section based on the facial direction in the direction estimating section.

9. The face authentication apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the output section outputs information required to display information that urges the authentication target person to perform a desired operation on a floor where the authentication target person should pass by using a projector based on the facial direction estimated by the direction estimating section in accordance with the state of the authentication target person estimated by the state estimating section.

10. The face authentication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a position estimating section that estimates a movement course of the authentication target person based on the facial image detected from each image by the face detecting section, wherein the state estimating section estimates a state of the authentication target person based on the movement course estimated by the position estimating section.

11. The face authentication apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the output section outputs a guidance that urges the authentication target person to perform an operation in accordance with the state of the authentication target person estimated by the state estimating section based on the movement course estimated by the position estimating section.

12. The face authentication apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the output section outputs display information required to display information that urges the authentication target person to perform a desired operation in an electric bulletin board installed along a passage where the authentication target person should pass based on the movement course estimated by the position estimating section in accordance with the state of the authentication target person estimated by the state estimating section.

13. The face authentication apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the output section outputs display information required to display information that urges the authentication target person to perform a desired operation on a floor where the authentication target person should pass by using a projector based on the movement course estimated by the position estimating section in accordance with the state of the authentication target person estimated by the state estimating section.

14. A face authentication method used in a face authentication apparatus, the method comprising: detecting a facial image of an authentication target person from each of a plurality of images supplied from a shooting device that continuously shoots a predetermined shooting range;estimating a state of the authentication target person based on the facial image detected from each image taken by the shooting device;outputting a guidance in accordance with the estimated state of the authentication target person; andauthenticating the authentication target person based on the facial image detected from each image taken by the shooting device.

15. The face authentication method according to claim 14, further comprising measuring a facial size based on the facial image detected from each image taken by the shooting device, wherein estimating the state estimates a state of the authentication target person based on the measured facial size.

16. The face authentication method according to claim 14, further comprising estimating a facial direction based on the facial image detected from each image taken by the shooting device, wherein estimating the state estimates a state of the authentication target method based on the estimated facial direction.

17. The face authentication method according to claim 14, further comprising estimating a movement course of the authentication target person based on the facial image detected from each image taken by the shooting device, wherein estimating the state estimates a state of the authentication target person based on the estimated movement course.