Face detection

Face detection apparatus generating an output indicative of the likelihood of test regions of a test image containing a face, the apparatus comprising:

• (i) logic to derive a plurality of sets of image attribute data from a test region, each set relating to said test region scaled by a respective different scaling factor from a geometric progression of scaling factors, said progression being such that each scaling factor is related to a next scaling factor by a predetermined multiplicative factor, said factor being the same across the whole progression of scaling factors;
• (ii) a first comparator to compare said derived attributes for each scaling factor with a first respective set of attributes indicative of the presence of a face to generate a first respective likelihood value;
• (iii) a second comparator to compare said derived attributes for each scaling factor with a second respective set of attributes indicative of the presence of a face to generate a second respective likelihood value;
• (iv) a generator to generate a combined likelihood value in respect of at least a subset of said scaling factors by combining the first likelihood value applicable to that scaling factor with the second likelihood value applicable to a further scaling factor separated from that scaling factor in the geometric progression by a predetermined number of positions;
• and
• (v)_logic to derive a probability of the presence of a face at each scaling factor in the subset by a similarity between said derived attributes and said combined likelihood value in respect of that scaling factor.