In the following the present invention, and in particular preferred embodiments thereof, will be described in more details in connection with accompanying drawing in which
FIG. 1 shows a device for introducing and converting a new user to a known user of a system,
FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for introducing and converting a new user to a known user of a system, and
FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of another embodiment of a method for introducing and converting a new user to a known user of a system.
FIG. 1 shows a device 113 for introducing and converting a new user 103 to a known user of a system 109, where a known user is a user whose characteristics are pre-stored in said system 109 and who, based on a match between detected characteristics and said pre-stored characteristics, is identified as a known user. In this example the system 109 is a computer, and the device 113 is integrated into the computer 109. The device 113 can also be situated externally from the system 109. The system 109 can in general be any kind of electrical system. The device 113 comprises a detector 102, 104 for detecting characteristics of said new user 103 and a processor 108 converting said new user 103 to a known user by adding at least one of the detected characteristics to said pre-stored characteristics in said system 109. In this embodiment the detector 102, 104 comprises a digital camera 104 and an acoustic sensor 102 for detecting one or more face characteristics and the voice of the new user 103.
As illustrated in FIG. 1a, the new user 103 is introduced to the system 109 by a user 101 that is known to the system 109. First, the known user 101, which is connected to the system 105, introduces the new user 103 to the system 109 by e.g. pointing towards the new user 103. The introduction may further comprise an oral introduction, e.g. speaking 115 the name of the new user 103. The camera 104 follows the pointing and focuses on the new user 103 by e.g. face detection and obtains images. The processor 108 determines face characteristics based on known phase recognition methods and adds the resulting characteristics in a storage means 106 having pre-stored characteristics of other users. These characteristics may comprise a certain characteristic from the user's eyes or a pattern in the images. As illustrated in FIG. 1b, the device 109 asks 119 the new user 103 to repeat some phrases. Based on the answer 117 from the new user 103 the processor generates an acoustic identification model for the new user 103 or acoustic characteristics, which are stored in said storage means 106.
In FIG. 1c the user 103 has been converted to a known user, which is known to the system 109 and therefore has an access to interact 121 with the system 109.
In one embodiment a photographic image is used to introduce and convert a new user 103 to a known user of a system 109. In this embodiment the device 113 utilizes only the images to provide an access to a new user so that the characteristics comprise only face characteristics. Therefore, the new user does not necessarily have to be present when introducing him to the system 109.
As an example, a known user is recognized by the device called “Dimi”.
A new user may be introduced by a dialogue like:
- 1. Known user: “Dimi, meet my friend Harold!”
- 2. Device (While using face detection and face recognition to find an unknown face, the device assumes that this is the new user and takes pictures to include them in the image database.): “Hi Harold, nice to meet you!”
- 3. Harold: “Hello Dimi” (device stores the utterance or the acoustics for adoption of speech recognition and speaker identification parameters).
FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for introducing and converting a new user to a known user of a system. Initially the new user is introduced to the system (Intro.) 201 by a known user, which has been positively identified by the system (the device). The introduction may be done e.g. by pointing towards the new user by another user that is known to the system. Also, the known user could use a photo of the new user. One or more characteristics of the new user (or the photo) are detected (Det. Char.) 203 by a scanner, a digital camera or a similar means. These characteristics can e.g. comprise characteristics in the eyes of the new user, distances between different parts of the face based on the light intensity in the image matrix detected by the camera. Subsequently the detected characteristics are stored (St. acc. Param.) 207 in a storage means comprising a pre-stored characteristics. Thereby, when the new user wants to access the system, the device detects one or several characteristics and compares them to the pre-stored characteristics. Therefore, when a match is found, the user has accessed the system (Acc. Sys.) 209.
FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of another embodiment of a method for introducing and converting a new user to a known user of a system. As described previously in FIG. 2, the new user is introduced to the system (Intro.) 301, and one or more characteristics of the new user are detected (Det. Char.) 303. In addition to the embodiment described in FIG. 2, the device further detects the voice of the new user, e.g. by asking the user to repeat some phrases (Ac. Phra.) 307, and based thereon generates an acoustic identification model (Ac. Mod.) 309 or acoustic characteristics for the new user. These characteristics are then stored (St. acc. Param.) 311 in a storage means comprising a pre-stored characteristic. Therefore, when said new user wants to access the system, a processor would check whether there is a match between one or more detected characteristics and the pre-stored characteristics. If there is a match, the access to the system would be permitted (Acc. Sys.) 313.
It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word ‘comprising’ does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed in a claim. The invention can be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In a device claim enumerating several means, several of these means can be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.
Patent Application
20080094170
