Method and apparatus for generating models of individuals

Data processing apparatus for generating models of individuals, said apparatus comprising:

• a database storing a plurality of face models generated utilizing images of individuals, each of the face models being built using images of individuals who share at least one identifying characteristic related to gender, ethnicity, age, or the presence or absence of facial hair or glasses;
• a receiver operable to receive type data identifying an identifying characteristic related to gender, ethnicity, age, the presence or absence of facial hair, or the presence or absence of glasses of a target individual in an image;
• a selector responsive to receipt of the type data by said receiver to select a face model from among the face models stored in said database built using images of individuals sharing the identifying characteristic identified by the received type data;
• a processing unit operable to generate a model of a target individual by:
• modifying an image including the target individual such that positions of feature points in the image including the target individual correspond to positions of feature points identified by the face model selected by said selector, and
• comparing color data in the modified image with an average face image generator using the selected face mode;
• and
• a transmitter operable to transmit a model of a target individual generated by said processing unit together with data identifying the selected face model utilized to generate the model of a target individual to a destination communication terminal operable to generate an image of the target individual using the generated model and the data identifying the selected face model.

A computer readable medium storing computer implementable instructions which, when interpreted by a programmable computer, cause the computer to:

• store a plurality of face models generated utilizing images of individuals, each of the face models being built using images of individuals who share at least one identifying characteristic related to gender, ethnicity, age or the presence or absence of facial hair or glasses;
• and
• respond to receipt of type data identifying an identifying characteristic related to gender, ethnicity, age, the presence or absence of facial hair, or the presence or absence of glasses of a target individual in an image by:
• selecting from among the stored face models, a face model built by using images of individuals who share the identifying characteristic corresponding to the received type data;
• modifying the image including the target individual such that positions of feature points in the image including the target individual correspond to positions of feature points identified by the selected face model;
• and
• generating a model of the target individual in the image based on a comparison of color data in the modified image with an average face image generated using the selected face model;
• and
• send the generated model and data identifying the selected face model to a destination communication terminal which is operable to generate a model image of the target individual using the generated model and data identifying the selected face model.