Method and component for image recognition

A component for image recognition in a collection of digital images comprising:

• a) training module for training a plurality of image classifiers, said module being arranged:
• (i) for each image in the collection, to identify any regions in the image corresponding to a face;
• (ii) for each face region and any associated peripheral region, for each of a plurality of image classifiers, to determine feature vectors;
• and
• (iii) to store said feature vectors in association with data relating to the associated face region, and
• b) a retrieval module for retrieving a sub-set of images from said collection and arranged:
• (i) to select from an image at least one reference region including a face to be recognised;
• (ii) to select from said plurality of image classifiers, at least one classifier on which said retrieval is to be based;
• (iii) to determine for said reference region, a respective feature vector for each selected classifier;
• and
• (iv) to retrieve said sub-set of images from within said image collection in accordance with the distance between the feature vectors determined for said reference region and the feature vectors for face regions of said image collection.