US7203367B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Indexing, storage and retrieval of digital images
Assignee: Apple Inc
•
Filing: 2001-08-28
•
Granted: 2007-04-10
•
Expires: 2021-08-28
Abstract
Abstract A method and a system for archiving, indexing and retrieving images of persons including the steps of providing image data relating to the images of persons to a suitably programmed computer, employing a first suitably programmed computer functionality to provide face recognition of the images, employing a second suitably programmed computer functionality to group the images according to faces recognized therein and employing a third suitably programmed computer functionality to provide an index of groups of the images organized according to faces recognized therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Moti Shniberg
- 👤 Yaron Nemet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 00:36
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06V; G06V40/00; G06V40/10; G06V40/16; G06V40/161; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/50; G06F16/53; G06F16/532; G06F16/58; G06F16/583; G06F16/5854
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
48 words
A method comprising: using information from each image, detecting the location and identification of each face in a group of still images; identifying generally all sub-images in said group of still images which are recognizable as faces; and indexing said group of still images according to said sub-images.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
48 words
A method comprising: using information from each image, detecting the location and identification of each face in a group of still images; identifying generally all sub-images in said group of still images which are recognizable as faces; and indexing said group of still images according to said sub-images.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 1 and also comprising employing an index generated by said indexing to retrieve images of an individual person.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 2 and wherein said employing is carried out via the Internet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 2 and also comprising downloading at least one image.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 1 and comprising using said sub-images as index icons.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 1 and also comprising providing said group of images via the Internet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method according to claim 1 and also comprising providing image data with a film camera and a scanner.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 1 and also comprising providing image data from a digital camera.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
59 words
A system comprising: a face recognition unit to detect the location and identification of each face in a group of still images from information in each image and to recognize generally all sub-images which are recognizable as faces in a group of still images; and an indexer to index each said group of still images according to said sub-images.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
59 words
A system comprising: a face recognition unit to detect the location and identification of each face in a group of still images from information in each image and to recognize generally all sub-images which are recognizable as faces in a group of still images; and an indexer to index each said group of still images according to said sub-images.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system according to claim 9 and also comprising an image retriever to retrieve images of an individual person from an index generated by said indexer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system according to claim 10 and wherein said index comprises icon means to employ a recognized face as an index icon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system according to claim 10 and wherein said image retriever comprises a downloader for downloading at least one image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 9 and also comprising a receiver to receive image data via the Internet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system according to claim 13 and wherein said receiver is connectable to a scanner scanning images from film.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system according to claim 13 and wherein said receiver is connectable to a digital camera.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
70 words
A method comprising: receiving a plurality of photographs of a multiplicity of persons in a plurality of scenes, wherein not all of the persons appear in all of the scenes; analyzing said plurality of photographs to detect and identify, from information in said photographs, generally all faces of said persons in each of the scenes; and grouping the photographs according to at least the faces of the persons appearing therein.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
70 words
A method comprising: receiving a plurality of photographs of a multiplicity of persons in a plurality of scenes, wherein not all of the persons appear in all of the scenes; analyzing said plurality of photographs to detect and identify, from information in said photographs, generally all faces of said persons in each of the scenes; and grouping the photographs according to at least the faces of the persons appearing therein.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method according to claim 16 and also comprising indexing said plurality of photographs at least partially in accordance with the faces of the persons appearing therein.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method according to claim 16 and wherein said photographs include unique identification indications on said multiplicity of persons and said analyzing comprises: recognizing the faces of the persons appearing in said photographs; recognizing said unique identification indications; and correlating said faces with said unique identification indications.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 16 and wherein said analyzing comprises image indication assisted face recognition.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
79 words
A system comprising: an image receiver to receive a plurality of photographs of a plurality of persons in a plurality of scenes, wherein not all of the persons appear in all of the scenes; and an analyzer to analyze said plurality of photographs to detect and identify, from information in said photographs, generally all faces of said persons in each of the scenes and to group the photographs according at least to the faces of the persons appearing therein.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
79 words
A system comprising: an image receiver to receive a plurality of photographs of a plurality of persons in a plurality of scenes, wherein not all of the persons appear in all of the scenes; and an analyzer to analyze said plurality of photographs to detect and identify, from information in said photographs, generally all faces of said persons in each of the scenes and to group the photographs according at least to the faces of the persons appearing therein.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system according to claim 20 and wherein said analyzer also comprises an indexer to index said plurality of photographs at least partially in accordance with the faces of the persons appearing therein.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system according to claim 20 and wherein said photographs include unique identification indications on said plurality of persons and said analyzer comprises: a face recognizer to recognize the faces of the persons appearing in said photographs; an indication recognizer to recognize said unique identification indications; and a correlator to correlate said faces with said unique identification indications.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system according to claim 20 and wherein said analyzer comprises an image indication assisted face recognizer.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2010-04-09 | 2010-10-09 | 2011-04-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-04-09 | 2014-10-09 | 2015-04-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-04-09 | 2018-10-09 | 2019-04-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |