JP2005032163A - Face matching system - Google Patents

Abstract

To realize a face collation system capable of collating a specific face from a set of faces, or selecting a face matching this from a specific keyword with a sense of play.
User B stores various face photo data and associated data in his / her area of the face image information database device 115, and sends the face photo data photographed by the wireless terminal 105 to the accepting device 114 for collation. Request. The collation device 116 collates with the face photograph data of the user's area in the face image information database device 115 to find the corresponding data if there is any, and the reception device 114 sends the collation result to the wireless terminal 105. .
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a face collation system that collates human and animal faces in a game sense.

  People's faces are various, but even Japanese people are categorized as having a face close to a person in a specific oriental country or western, or a face close to a certain celebrity It is often done. For this reason, even when you introduce an acquaintance to another person, you often get a rough understanding of the face because of the celebrity's A style. On the other hand, there is a case where it is talked about who the face of a celebrity is similar to one's face or a friend's face. In recent years, cameras are often attached to mobile phones, small computers, etc., and when these are communicated with each other by attaching them to an e-mail or the like, there is an increased opportunity for comparison with other people's faces. .

Conventionally, a proposal has been made that a user of a communication terminal is photographed with a camera using a communication terminal such as a mobile phone (see, for example, Patent Document 1). However, in this proposal, the physical characteristics of the operator who uses the communication terminal are photographed with a camera and transmitted to the verification system side to determine the legitimacy of the operator. It is used for identity verification required for
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-87409 (paragraph 0009, FIG. 2)

  Therefore, the technique disclosed in this proposal is a technique for discriminating whether or not the photographed face matches that of the person prepared in advance, and intends to use that technique for security. This is clearly different from the case where the determination of whether or not the game is being performed is based on a sense of game or play.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to realize a face collation system that can collate a specific face from a set of faces or select a face that matches a specific keyword with a sense of play.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, (b) face image information storage means for storing image information of a plurality of faces in a specific area on the communication network, and (b) photographing image information of a face to be collated. And (c) similarity determination for determining the similarity between the face image information captured by the image capturing means and the face image information registered in the face image information storage means. And (d) an information presenting means for presenting relevant information related to the face determined to be most similar by the similarity determination means.

  That is, in the present invention, image information of a plurality of faces is stored in a specific area on the communication network, and the image information of the face to be collated is captured by the photographing means and collated by the similarity determination means. Related information related to the face determined to be similar is presented by the information presenting means. Therefore, if a database for matching is prepared on the communication network side, any face matching process can be easily performed by communicating with the database.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, (a) face image information storing means for storing image information of a plurality of faces in a specific area on the communication network, and (b) selecting face image information to be collated. And (c) similarity for determining similarity between the face image information selected by the selection means via the communication network and the face image information stored in the face image information storage means. The face collation system includes a determination unit and (d) an information presentation unit that presents related information related to the face determined to be most similar by the similarity determination unit.

  That is, according to the present invention, image information of a plurality of faces is stored in a specific area on the communication network, and the selected face image information to be collated is collated by the similarity determination unit and is most similar. The related information related to the face determined to be present is presented by the information presenting means. Therefore, if a database for matching is prepared on the communication network side, any face matching process can be easily performed by communicating with the database.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, (a) face image information storage means provided for each user and storing image information of a plurality of faces in an image information storage area for each user according to an instruction from the user terminal; When a specific face image information is specified from a specific user terminal and a collation request is made, the face image information requested for collation and the face image information stored in the image information storage area of the user The face collation system includes collation means for collation, and (c) information transmission means for transmitting related information related to the face selected as a collation result of the collation means to the user terminal of the user who requested it.

  That is, in the present invention, the user performs collation using the facial image information accumulated under his / her management, and the result is sent to the user terminal, so the facial image information storage means is a personal information storage means, Collation processing can be performed within the range of hobbies.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the face matching system according to the third aspect, in addition to the image information storage area for each user, a common image information storage area common to these users is provided. It is characterized in that image information of the face of the person who has accepted or provided the use of the person is stored.

  That is, in the present invention, a common image information storage area common to users is provided, and in this common area, the image information of the face of each person who has accepted or provided the use of each person is stored. Collation with other people's faces can be performed without harming profits. Further, it is possible to perform collation even when there are few or no face photographs collected by the user.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, (a) a plurality of face image information and accompanying data accompanying each image information are stored in a user unit image information storage area in accordance with an instruction from the user terminal. Face image information storage means, and (b) collation means for collating the associated data stored in the image information storage area of the user when a specific keyword is specified from a specific user terminal and a collation request is made (C) The face matching system includes information transmitting means for sending image information corresponding to the accompanying data selected as the matching result of the matching means together with the accompanying data to the user terminal of the user who requested it.

  That is, according to the present invention, the face image information is obtained by searching the accompanying data such as occupation, name, and the like, which are attached to the face image information, instead of matching the faces.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the face collation system according to any one of the first to third and fifth aspects, the face image information storing means is associated with the face image information as accompanying data in the face image information storage means. It is characterized by storing incidental data such as a person's name, date of birth and occupation.

  That is, the accompanying data is exemplified in the present invention. Data other than the exemplified data may be included in the accompanying data.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the face collation system according to any one of the first to third aspects and the fifth aspect, the facial image information storage means stores facial image information of animals other than human beings. It is characterized by that.

  That is, in the present invention, in view of the fact that an animal's face may be captured as anthropomorphic, it has been clarified that image information of the face of an animal other than a human may be stored and used in the face image information storage means. Yes. This is particularly effective when collating with a sense of fun.

  In the present invention, since the faces of people and animals are collated with a sense of game or play, the collation process can be enjoyed without using a particularly large-scale collation apparatus. In particular, the application of the camera in an information terminal such as a mobile phone with a camera can be expanded. In addition, since the database can be placed in a different location from the network requesting collation, it is possible to perform collation work that handles photos even for communication terminals with relatively small memory capacity such as mobile terminals. Can be executed.

<First Embodiment>

  FIG. 1 shows an outline of a face matching system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The face matching system 100 is a system that uses a communication network 101 including an Internet network, a mobile phone network, a CATV (Community Antenna TeleVision; CAble TeleVision) network, and the like. An information terminal 103 such as a personal computer is connected to the communication network 101 through a wired line 102 such as a telephone line. In addition, a wireless terminal 105 such as a mobile phone, a PHS (Personal Handy-phone System), and a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) is connected by a base station 104 using a wireless line 106. In this embodiment, the information terminal 103 is connected to a small CCD (Charged Coupled Device) camera 107, which can be used to photograph the face 108 of the user, his / her family or friend. In addition, an image scanner 109 is connected to the information terminal 103 so that a celebrity face photo 110 or the like of a celebrity published in a weekly magazine gravure or the like can be appropriately read. On the other hand, a small camera 111 is incorporated in the wireless terminal 105, whereby the user 112, his family, or a friend's face 112 can be photographed. Similarly, a close-up photograph of a magazine or the like with this small camera 111 can appropriately read a celebrity face photo or the like. A small CCD camera 107 connected to the information terminal 103 also has a close-up function, or can purchase a face photograph of others publicly by purchasing a close-up lens. In this embodiment, for convenience, the user of the information terminal 103 will be described as user A, and the user of the wireless terminal 105 will be described as user B.

  On the communication network 101, a reception device 114 of the face matching system 100, a face image information database device 115 that stores various face image information as a database, predetermined image information in the face image information database device 115, and a user side A collation device 116 that collates face image information presented by (for example, user A or user B) is also provided. The receiving device 114, the face image information database device 115, and the collation device 116 are devices that operate the system, and can be configured as a single device as necessary.

  FIG. 2 shows a main part of the configuration of the receiving apparatus. The accepting device 114 is constituted by a personal computer or a workstation, for example, and has a CPU (central processing unit) 121 mounted thereon. The CPU 121 is connected to circuit devices such as a control program storage medium 123, a work memory 124, an input / output circuit 125, a communication control device 126, and a display control circuit 127 via a bus 122 such as a data bus. Here, the control program storage medium 123 is a storage medium such as a hard disk or an optical disk that stores a control program for realizing the reception process of the reception device 114. The work memory 124 is a memory such as a RAM (random access memory) that temporarily stores programs and various data necessary for the CPU 121 to execute the control program. For example, a keyboard 128 for inputting data is connected to the input / output circuit 125. A pointing device such as a mouse, another data input device such as a floppy disk, or an output device such as a printer may be connected thereto. The communication control device 126 is a device for inputting / outputting data to / from the communication network 101 shown in FIG. A display 129 is connected to the display control circuit 127.

  Since the face image information database device 115 and the collation device 116 shown in FIG. 1 have basically the same configuration as that of the accepting device 114, their illustration is omitted. However, the face image information database device 115 is provided with a relatively large-capacity storage medium, in which a database made up of face image information and other information is stored. The collation device 116 stores a program for determining the similarity of facial image information in its control program, and by executing this, the facial image information requested for collation is stored in the facial image information database device 115. It is determined which of the plurality of face image information to be compared is most similar. However, in this embodiment, the collation operation between the face image information existing in the face image information database and the image information to be collated need not be performed with high accuracy. This is because the face collation system 100 of this embodiment discriminates between different faces as if it were a game, and it is also because there is no particular security requirement such as discrimination of person identity.

  FIG. 3 shows a partial region of the face image information database apparatus. The face image information database device 115 has an independent area for storing face image information for each user who uses the face matching system 100. For example, the user A area 141 </ b> A is a dedicated area allocated for the user A of the information terminal 103 shown in FIG. 1, and the user B area 141 </ b> B is a dedicated area allocated to the user B of the wireless terminal 105. The user A area 141A includes a plurality of sets of one face photograph data 142 sent from the information terminal 103 and associated data 143 such as occupation, name, birthplace, hobby, etc. of the person and reference number 144. Data is registered. The same applies to the user B area 141B.

  In this way, each user's registration area (storage area) is independent, for example, when a user registers personal information about a friend's or parent's face photo or their personality. It has the meaning of preventing privacy infringement due to collation by the user. In addition, it is conceivable that many users register image information such as pictures and illustrations of actors, announcers, etc. in order to compare with the person to be collated. In this case, there is no problem in portrait rights when an individual registers in the personal area and collates with other faces, but photos of these faces are used by others without their consent. This is because there is a possibility that problems may arise in portrait rights beyond the scope of personal use.

  The user B shown in FIG. 1 uses the wireless terminal 105 to register the face photo data 142 and the accompanying data 143 in the user B area 141B of the face image information database apparatus 115 shown in FIG. The state of control when deleting the above data or performing actual collation will be described.

  FIG. 4 shows how the receiving apparatus is controlled. The accepting device 114 waits for the wireless terminal 105 to access (step S201). When the wireless terminal 105 accesses (Y), personal authentication is performed to confirm whether the access is from a registered member of the face matching system 100 (step S202). If it is confirmed that the user is a registered member, data relating to the menu screen for the user B to use the face matching system 100 is sent to the wireless terminal 105 (step S203).

  FIG. 5 shows a flow of a series of processing when user B performs registration processing using a wireless terminal. This is not a process programmed in the wireless terminal 105 itself, but represents a time-series process performed by the wireless terminal 105 based on an operation performed by the user B when registering the facial photograph data 142 and the accompanying data 143. Not too much. First, the user B takes a face photograph with the small camera 111 incorporated in the wireless terminal 105 (step S221). Instead of photographing, for example, a desired photograph data collection previously stored in a personal computer or the like may be sent to the wireless terminal 105 by e-mail.

  Next, the user B accesses the accepting device 114 as part of the work of accumulating a plurality of face photographs and the like as a database in the face matching system 100 (step S222). This access is detected in step S201 in FIG. Therefore, since the menu screen is sent from the accepting device 114 in step S203 of FIG. 4, in this example, the user B selects a registration screen for registering the face photo data 142 and the accompanying data 143 from the menu screen. (Step S223). Then, the face photo data 142 and the accompanying data 143 are sent as registration data to the accepting device 114 to be stored in the user B area 141B of FIG. 3 (step S224).

  Returning to FIG. 4, the description will be continued. In step S <b> 203, the reception apparatus 114 waits for data to be sent from the wireless terminal 105 after the menu screen is sent to the corresponding wireless terminal 105. If the face photograph data 142 and the accompanying data 143 are sent as registration data in this state (step S204: Y), these data are transferred to the face image information database device 115 (step S205). Then, when a notification is received from the face image information database device 115 indicating that the registration processing of the face photo data 142 and the accompanying data 143 has been normally completed (step S206: Y), the registration processing has been normally completed. The wireless terminal 105 is notified (step S207). If not completed normally (step S206: N), the wireless terminal 105 is notified that an error has occurred (step S208).

  Returning to FIG. 5 again, the description will be continued. When the user B receives the notification of step S207 or step S208 in FIG. 4 after sending the facial photograph data 142 and the accompanying data 143 to the accepting device 114, the user B provides visual information indicating that the registration process has been completed or that an error has occurred. It will be displayed (step S225). Thus, whenever the user B sends the face photo data 142 and the accompanying data 143 to the reception device 114, the database that can be used by the user B in the face image information database device 115 shown in FIG. It is possible to more accurately collate with other people's face photos using the face photo data.

  FIG. 6 shows an outline of registration processing in the face image information database apparatus. When the face image information database device 115 receives the face photograph data 142 and the accompanying data 143 sent by the accepting device 114 in step S205 of FIG. 4 (step S241: Y), the database portion (here, user B) of the user (here, user B) Then, the received face photo data 142 and accompanying data 143 are registered in the user B area 141B) and the contents are updated (step S242). When this process ends normally (step S243: Y), the reception apparatus 114 is notified of the normal end (step S244). On the other hand, if the process ends abnormally (step S243: N), a notification to that effect is sent to the accepting device 114 (step S245).

  FIG. 7 shows a flow of a series of processing when the user B performs registration deletion processing using a wireless terminal. This is not the process programmed in the wireless terminal 105 itself as in FIG. 5, but the process performed by the wireless terminal 105 based on the operation performed by the user B when deleting the set of the facial photograph data 142 and the accompanying data 143. It is only a series of representations. Note that such deletion processing is performed when wrong data is registered in the user B area 141B.

  First, the user B accesses the accepting device 114 for deletion (step S261). Based on this, a menu screen is sent from the accepting device 114 in step S203 of FIG. Therefore, this is displayed on a display (not shown) and a deletion screen is selected (step S262). Then, the deletion data specifying the reference number 144 for specifying the face photo data 142 to be deleted and the accompanying data 143 (see FIG. 3) is transmitted to the accepting device 114 (step S263).

  By the way, after receiving the menu screen to the wireless terminal 105, the accepting device 114 shown in FIG. 1 receives registration data from the wireless terminal 105 (step S204) or delete data (step S204). S209), or a standby operation is performed as to whether collation data for collation of photographs or the like is sent (step S210). If deletion data is sent as in this case (step S209: Y), the corresponding face photo data 142 and associated data 143 are deleted (step S211).

  FIG. 8 specifically shows the deletion process performed by the receiving apparatus. This shows the specific contents of the processing in step S211 in FIG. The receiving device 114 sends a request for reading the contents of the face photo data 142 to be deleted and the accompanying data 143 requested from the wireless terminal 105 to the face image information database device 115 using the reference number 144 (FIG. 3) as a key. This is performed (step S281). When the corresponding face photo data 142 and the accompanying data 143 are sent together with the reference number 144 from the face image information database device 115 (step S282: Y), the accepting device 114 stores the read face photo data 142 and the accompanying data 143. It transmits to the wireless terminal 105 (step S283). This is to cause the user B to perform confirmation processing before executing the deletion processing.

  Returning to FIG. On the wireless terminal 105 side, the received face photograph data 142 and accompanying data 143 are confirmed on the above-described display, and if the content is to be deleted, data indicating the deletion confirmation is transmitted to the accepting device 114 (step S264). It is also possible to cancel the deletion or transmit data indicating that the deletion target is changed to the other face photo data 142 and the accompanying data 143.

  Returning to FIG. Whether the reception device 114 receives data confirming the deletion from the wireless terminal 105 (step S284), receives data for canceling the deletion process (step S285), or a new reference number for changing the deletion target It waits for deletion data to be sent with 144 (step S286). When data for confirming deletion is sent (step S284: Y), the face image information database device 115 is requested to delete the corresponding face photo data 142 and accompanying data 143 (step S287). And the process after step S206 of FIG. 4 is performed.

  On the other hand, when data indicating cancellation is sent from the wireless terminal 105 (step S285: Y), the request for deletion to the face image information database device 115 is stopped and the processing shown in FIG. finish. If another deletion data instruction has been issued from the wireless terminal 105 to change the deletion (step S286: Y), the process proceeds to step S281 and the above-described deletion contents are newly specified. Processing will proceed.

  Returning to FIG. 7 again, the description of the deletion process of the wireless terminal 105 will be continued. If the user B decides to delete or cancel the deletion, that is, other than the change to be deleted (step S265: N), the notification in step S207 or step S208 in FIG. Will be sent. Therefore, the wireless terminal 105 displays this (step S266), and ends a series of processes for deletion (end). On the other hand, when the user B changes the deletion target (step S265: Y), the process proceeds to step S263, and the deletion data is transmitted to the reception device 114 by designating a new deletion target.

  FIG. 9 shows the flow of deletion processing in the face image information database apparatus. When the face image information database device 115 receives a request for reading the face photo data 142 to be deleted and the accompanying data 143 in step S281 in FIG. 8 from the accepting device 114 (step S301: Y), these are designated as reference numbers 144 (FIG. 3). As a key and transmitted to the accepting device 114 (step S302). When the reference number 144 is finally designated from the accepting device 114 and there is a deletion request in step S287 in FIG. 8 (step S303: Y), the corresponding face photo data 142 and associated data 143 are deleted. The database is updated with new contents (step S304). And the success or failure of the process as the process result is notified to the reception apparatus 114 (step S305).

  As described above, using the data stored in the face image information database device 115, the user B can operate the wireless terminal 105 to collate face photographs. This may be used, for example, for taking a picture of each person with the wireless terminal 105 at a drinking party with a friend and performing an entertainment about who is similar to who of the famous person. In addition, in the case of a person who must match the names of many people's faces, the face photo of these people is collated with this face collation system, and the result is similar to actor C. It is also effective to perform facial typology that resembles announcer D.

  FIG. 10 shows a flow of a series of processes when user B performs such collation using a wireless terminal. This is not a process programmed in the wireless terminal 105 itself as in FIG. 5, but merely a time-series representation of processes performed by the wireless terminal 105. User B uses the camera 111 of the wireless terminal 105 to take a picture of the person to be collated (step S321). Of course you can also take a picture of yourself. Further, it is not necessary to take a picture with the camera 111 attached to the wireless terminal 105, and is a face photograph stored in the wireless terminal 105 by some means or a face photograph appearing on a homepage accessed by the wireless terminal 105 on the Internet, for example. Also good. A photo of someone else's face sent by e-mail is also possible.

  When a face photo for collation is prepared, the user B accesses the accepting device 114 (step S322), and selects a collation screen from the menu screen sent after the personal authentication is performed (step S323). Then, the prepared face photograph is transmitted as verification data to the accepting device 114 (step S324).

  Returning to FIG. 4, the description will be continued. When the collation data is sent from the wireless terminal 105 (step S210: Y), the accepting device 114 accesses the collation device 116 shown in FIG. 1 and requests collation (step S212). When the collation result is sent from the collation device 116 (step S213: Y), the result and accompanying data are transmitted to the wireless terminal 105 of the user B (step S214). At this time, the face photo data 142 of the matched person may be transmitted as a collation result, but if the amount of data is relatively large, whether or not the face photo data 142 can be transmitted can be selected by the initial setting on the user side. .

  Returning to FIG. When the wireless terminal 105 of the user B receives the accompanying data in the case of matching with the result of whether or not the collation is successful from the accepting device 114, it displays this on the display (step S325). When an instruction is given to send the facial photo data 142, the facial photo of the corresponding actress or the like is also displayed on the display. In this case, by comparing and displaying the collation photo and the collation result photo on the display, the topic about the face and its celebrity will be greatly excited at a drinking party or the like. In addition, this time, the face collation system 100 is used like a game, such as who will take a face for collation. Therefore, in the case of this face matching system 100, it is not always necessary to use advanced matching techniques for face matching, and a specific one such as a feature of the face contour or the interval between nostrils that occupies the width of the entire face or It may be a relatively simple one that analyzes a plurality of elements. Of course, unlike the information terminal 103 such as the wireless terminal 105 or personal computer, the collation device 116 can perform collation using a dedicated and sophisticated collation program. The accuracy of matching may be varied depending on the number of face photo data 142 accumulated in the area 141B (FIG. 3).

  FIG. 11 shows the flow of processing of the collation device. When the collation device 116 receives a collation request from the accepting device 114 (step S341: Y), the face for which collation is requested for the entire face photo data 142 of the user B stored in the face image information database device 115. A similarity search with a photograph is executed (step S342). As a result, when the most similar (or matching) exists (step S343: Y), the face image information database device 115 is requested to read the accompanying data 143 of the corresponding face photo data 142. (Step S344). When the accompanying data 143 is sent (step S345: Y), the result of similarity or coincidence and the accompanying data 143 are transmitted to the accepting device 114 (step S346). In the case of a search result indicating that there is no similarity or no match (step S343: N), only the result is transmitted to the accepting device 114 (step S347).

  In the collation processing shown in FIG. 11, when the collation device 116 matches or is similar as a collation result, the associated data 143 corresponding to the photo data 142 stored in the face image information database device 115 is read. However, if the user B area 141B to be searched has a relatively small size, a copy of the entire data in this area is transferred to the collation device 116 side, and subsequent searches and associated All processing for reading the data 143 may be performed on the collation device 116 side.

<Second Embodiment>

  FIG. 12 shows an outline of control of each part in the face matching system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the overall configuration of the system and the configuration of each device are controlled by a control program stored in each device excluding an information terminal such as a personal computer and a wireless terminal such as a mobile phone. This is only slightly different from the first embodiment. Accordingly, the description will be made using FIGS. 1 to 3 also in the second embodiment.

  In the face collation system according to the second embodiment, the face photo is not used for collation, but the matching face photo data 142 is provided to the user by using the accompanying data 143 for collation. Therefore, if there is a request to search for a singer in Aomori Prefecture at the same age as you, you can search for the person's photo data using keywords.

  Assume that user A uses this system. User A accesses the accepting device 114 with the information terminal 103 such as a personal computer (step S401), and receives authentication that the user is a member of the face matching system (step S402). User A selects and displays a keyword search screen from the menu screen sent from the accepting device 114 or the menu screen obtained by executing a system-dedicated program installed in advance in the information terminal 103 (step S403). Then, a matching keyword is selected and sent to the accepting device 114 (step S404).

  The accepting device 114 transfers the sent keyword to the matching device 116 (step S405). The collation device 116 searches the accompanying data 143 of the user A area 141A (FIG. 3) using the sent keyword (step S406), and receives a report of any matches in the face image information database device 115. (Step S407), the face image information database device 115 is requested to retrieve the corresponding face photograph data 142 and accompanying data 143 (Step S408). In response to this request, when one or more sets of face photo data 142 and associated data 143 are obtained from the face image information database device 115 (step S409), the collation device 116 sends them to the reception device 114 (step S409). S410). The accepting device 114 sends the one or a plurality of sets of face photograph data 142 and accompanying data 143 that have been sent to the information terminal 103 (step S411), and displays them on a display (not shown) (step S412).

<Third Embodiment>

  FIG. 13 shows an outline of a face matching system according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 13, the same parts as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. In the face matching system 100A of the third embodiment, a celebrity database device 501 and an animal database device 502 are newly connected to the communication network 101 of the first embodiment. The celebrity database device 501 is a database that collects face photographs submitted by the person himself / herself or face photographs data that the person himself / hers has approved to use, and associated data corresponding thereto. These are the systems operators who are considered celebrities or, if necessary, their affiliates or parental authorities to contact them to provide data for free or for free. Because it is a thing, there is no problem in copyright and portrait rights.

  By designating this celebrity database device 501 as a “common area” that is different from the user area at the time of collation, each user can see the face of another person similar to the face of the person to be collated even when his database is not sufficient. Can be selected with sufficient accuracy. In addition, since a status or standard is that a celebrity is selected and registered as a celebrity in the celebrity database device 501, a lot of face photo data can be stored relatively easily.

  The animal database device 502 is a collection of facial photographs or face illustrations of animals (animals) such as apes and dogs, and a database having no problem in terms of copyright is also created. The animal database device 502 can be used for collation as to which of the famous animals the animal as a pet is similar to, but for other purposes, by selecting “Animal” as the collation destination, It can also be used to determine which animal the person's face to be matched looks like. It is also possible to perform reverse collation by taking a picture of a plurality of friends with a mobile phone or the like and selecting a person most similar to a specific animal among them.

It is a system configuration figure showing the outline of the face collation system in a 1st embodiment. It is a block diagram showing the principal part of the structure of the reception apparatus in 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which showed the partial area | region of the face image information database apparatus in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing the mode of control of the reception apparatus in 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing showing the flow of a series of processes when a user performs a registration process using a wireless terminal in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing the outline | summary of the registration process in the face image information database apparatus in 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing showing the flow of a series of processes when a user performs a registration deletion process using a wireless terminal in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the deletion process which a reception apparatus performs in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing the flow of the deletion process in the face image information database apparatus in the first embodiment. It is explanatory drawing showing the flow of a series of processes when a user performs a collation process using a wireless terminal in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart showing the flow of the process of the collation apparatus in 1st Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which showed the outline | summary of control of each part in the face collation system of 2nd Embodiment. It is a system block diagram showing the outline | summary of the face collation system in the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100,100A Face collation system 101 Communication network 103 Information terminal 105 Wireless terminal 107 CCD camera 108, 112 Face 109 Scanner 110 Face photograph 111 Camera 114 Reception apparatus 115 Face image information database apparatus 116 Collation apparatus 121 CPU (central processing unit)
123 Control Program Storage Medium 141 User Area 142 Face Photo Data 143 Accompanying Data 501 Celebrity Database Device 502 Animal Database Device

Claims (7)

Face image information storage means for storing image information of a plurality of faces in a specific area on the communication network;
Photographing means for photographing image information of a face to be verified;
Similarity determination means for receiving the image information of the face imaged by the imaging means via the communication network and determining the similarity of the face image information registered in the face image information storage means;
A face collation system comprising: information presenting means for presenting related information related to a face determined to be most similar by the similarity determining means. Face image information storage means for storing image information of a plurality of faces in a specific area on the communication network;
A selection means for selecting face image information to be matched;
Similarity determination means for receiving the face image information selected by the selection means via the communication network and determining the similarity between the face image information stored in the face image information storage means;
A face collation system comprising: information presenting means for presenting related information related to a face determined to be most similar by the similarity determining means. Face image information storage means provided for each user and storing image information of a plurality of faces in an image information storage area for each user according to an instruction from the user terminal;
When a specific face image information is specified from a specific user terminal and a collation request is made, the face image information requested for collation and the face image information stored in the image information storage area of the user A matching means for matching
A face matching system comprising: information transmitting means for transmitting related information related to the face selected as a matching result of the matching means to the user terminal of the user who requested it.   In addition to the image information storage area for each user, a common image information storage area common to these users is provided, in which the image information of the face of each person who has accepted or provided the use of each person is stored. The face matching system according to claim 3, wherein Face image information storage means provided for each user and storing image information of a plurality of faces and accompanying data accompanying each image information in an image information storage area for each user according to an instruction from the user terminal;
A collation means for collating the associated data stored in the image information storage area of the user when a specific keyword is specified from a specific user terminal and a collation request is received;
An information transmitting means for transmitting image information corresponding to the accompanying data selected as a matching result of the matching means to the user terminal of the user who requested it together with the accompanying data.   2. The face image information storage means stores accompanying data such as the name, date of birth, occupation, etc. of the person of the face in association with face image information as accompanying data. The face matching system according to any one of claims 3 and 5.   6. The face collation system according to claim 1, wherein the face image information storage means stores image information of faces of animals other than human beings.

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