Enhanced face recognition in video
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsKenneth M. Karakotsios, Kah Kuen Fu, Volodymyr V. Ivanchenko, Mingjing Huang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The computational resources needed to perform processes such as image recognition can be reduced by determining appropriate frames of image information to use for the processing. In some embodiments, infrared imaging can be used to determine when a person is looking substantially towards a device, such that an image frame captured at that time will likely be adequate for facial recognition. In other embodiments, sound triangulation or motion sensing can be used to assist in determining which captured image frames to discard and which to select for processing based on any of a number of factors indicative of a proper frame for processing.
Claims20
A computer-implemented method of selecting a video frame for facial recognition, comprising:
- under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions,
- initiating a capture of video information on an electronic device;
- detecting at least one feature in the video information indicative of a person's head;
- in response to detecting the at least one feature, activating at least one infrared (IR) imaging mechanism of the electronic device operable to illuminate the person with at least one wavelength of IR light and detect IR light reflected back from the person;
- detecting features corresponding to the person's pupils in the reflected IR light;
- analyzing the detected features to determine at least one of an orientation, a measurement, or a level of focus of the detected features in the reflected IR light;
- selecting a current frame of video information when at least one of the orientation, measurement, or level of focus of the detected features meets a specified selection criterion;
- and
- performing facial recognition on the selected frame.
A computer-implemented method of selecting a video frame for facial recognition, comprising:
- under control of one or more computing systems configured with executable instructions,
- detecting motion near an electronic device;
- in response to detecting motion, activating at least one infrared (IR) imaging mechanism of the electronic device operable to illuminate a person within view of the IR imaging mechanism with at least one wavelength of IR light and detect IR light reflected back from the person;
- detecting features corresponding to the person's corneas in the reflected IR light;
- in response to detecting the features, initiating a capture of video information on the electronic device;
- selecting a current frame of video information when at least one of an orientation, a measurement, or level of focus of the detected features meets a specified selection criterion;
- and
- performing facial recognition on the selected frame.
A computer system, comprising:
- one or more processors;
- a memory device including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to:
- activate at least one infrared (IR) imaging mechanism of an electronic device operable to illuminate a person with at least one wavelength of IR light and detect IR light reflected back from the person;
- detect features corresponding to the person's pupils in the reflected IR light;
- analyze the detected features to determine at least one of an orientation, a measurement, or a level of focus of the detected features in the reflected IR light;
- select a frame of video information when at least one of the orientation, measurement, or level of focus of the detected features meets a specified selection criterion;
- and
- perform facial recognition on the selected frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.