Information processing apparatus, method of computer control, computer readable medium, and computer data signal

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes: an image pickup unit that images an image of a face; a first extraction unit that extracts a first image pattern as a correct solution pattern based on a sample image of the race; a second extraction unit that extracts a second image pattern as a counterexample pattern based on the sample image; a learning unit that learns a pattern recognition of the target part based on the first image pattern and the second image pattern; an identification unit that identifies a face area from the image of the face, the face area being an area where the face is shown; and a detection unit that detects a position of the target part from the face area based on the pattern recognition of the target part.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates the hardware configuration of an image processing apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram or the image processing apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a drawing that illustrates an example of a sample image to learn image recognition;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged drawing of a part of the sample image;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of learning processing of the image processing apparatus; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of image recognition processing of the image processing apparatus.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising: an image pickup unit that images an image of a face;a first extraction unit that extracts a first image pattern as a correct solution pattern based on a sample image of the face, the first image pattern being an image pattern of a target part of the face;a second extraction unit that extracts a second image pattern as a counterexample pattern based on the sample image, the second image pattern being an image pattern of the target part in an adjacent area of the correct solution pattern;a learning unit that learns a pattern recognition of the target part based on the first image pattern and the second image pattern;an identification unit that identifies a face area from the image of the face, the face area being an area where the face is shown; anda detection unit that detects a position of the target part from the face area based on the pattern recognition of the target part.

2. The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, which comprises: a determination unit that determines a search area based on color information of the face, the search area being an area where a search is made for the target part,whereinthe detection unit detects the position of the target part from the search area based on the pattern recognition of the target part.

3. The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe target part is a mouth corner, andthe determination unit determines the search area based on a red component of complexion of the face area.

4. The image processing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, whereinthe target part is a nose, andthe determination unit determines the search area based on luminance of complexion of the face area.

5. A control method of an image processing apparatus, which comprises: imaging an image of a face;first extracting a first image pattern as a correct solution pattern based on a sample image of the face, the first image pattern being an image pattern of a target part of the face;second extracting a second image pattern as a counterexample pattern based on the sample image, the second image pattern being an image pattern of the target part in an adjacent area of the correct solution pattern;learning a pattern recognition of the target part based on the first image pattern and the second image pattern;identifying a face area from the image of the face, the face area being an area where the face is shown; anddetecting a position of the target part from the face area based on the pattern recognition of the target part.

6. A computer readable medium storing a program causing a computer to execute a process for controlling an image processing apparatus, which comprises: imaging an image of a face;first extracting a first image pattern as a correct solution pattern based on a sample image of the face, the first image pattern being an image pattern of a target part of the face;second extracting a second image pattern as a counterexample pattern based on the sample image, the second image pattern being an image pattern of the target part in an adjacent area of the correct solution pattern;learning a pattern recognition of the target part based on the first image pattern and the second image pattern;identifying a face area from the image of the face, the face area being an area where the face is shown; anddetecting a position of the target part from the face area based on the pattern recognition of the target part.

7. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave for enabling a computer to perform a process for controlling an image processing apparatus, which comprises: imaging an image of a face;first extracting a first image pattern as a correct solution pattern based on a sample image of the face, the first image pattern being an image pattern of a target part of the face;second extracting a second image pattern as a counterexample pattern based on the sample image, the second image pattern being an image pattern of the target part in an adjacent area of the correct solution pattern;learning a pattern recognition of the target part based on the first image pattern and the second image pattern;identifying a face area from the image of the face, the face area being an area where the face is shown; anddetecting a position of the target part from the face area based on the pattern recognition of the target part.