US 4,754,487 A · Picture storage and retrieval system for various limited storage mediums

Abstract

A system for storing an image of an object to be identified and for retrieving the stored image of the object for displaying the same on a display screen. The system includes electronic scanner for scanning the object on a line-to-line basis to provide an analog signal for each line indicative of the information content of said object. The analog information is converted by a digitizer into pixels which define a matrix which matrix determines the information content for each line. A window area is generated which area encompasses a predetermined area within a larger display area. The window area is used to generate and to respond to a first set of digital information which information is derived from the matrix pixels. This first set of digital information is such that the window area contains a limited number of pixels plus a limited number of lines, each of which is generated when the window area is scanned. A critical identification area is defined by the apparatus which critical identification area is determined by the common characteristics areas associated with the object to be scanned. In an image of a person's face, the area consists of a "T" zone which encompasses the eyes, nose and mouth area. In this critical identification area, information is generated or employed which employs pixels that were skipped during the scanning of the window area. In this manner the critical identification area contains more detailed information to enable one to thereby authenticate the regenerated image from the first and second sets of digital data to thereby enable one to positively identify one person as compared to another person. The technique provides a video compression of such data whereby the resultant digital information is capable of being stored on a very limited medium such as a magnetic stripe associated with a credit card.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A system for storing an image of an object to be identified to enable said image to be retrieved for display on a display screen area comprising:

scanning means for scanning said object on a line-to-line basis in a vertical direction to provide analog information for each of said lines indicate of the information content of the image of said object to enable said object to be displayed on said display screen area;
digitizing means for converting said analog information into digital information for each of said lines to provide a given number of pixels for each line, with each pixel indicative of area information content along said one associated line;
means for generating a window area within said display screen area and for packing said window area with a first set of limited digital information for a given set of lines and pixels within said window area as derived from said digital information wherein said window area contains information content of said object of a reduced number of pixels and of a reduced number of lines;
means for generating a critical identification area within said window area with said critical identification area selected according to information content in said object which distinguishes said object from other like objects and for packing said critical identification area with a second set of limited digital information for lines and pixels within said critical identification area as derived from said digital information and wherein said second set of digital information of said object is indicative of information content for pixels and lines not within said first set;
and
means, responsive to said first and second sets of digital information, for causing storage of the first and second sets of digitized information on a storage medium.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Picture storage and retrieval system for various limited storage mediums

Life of this patent

Picture storage and retrieval system for various limited storage mediums

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29