US 9,311,564 B2 · Face age-estimation and methods, systems, and software therefor

Abstract

Age-estimation of a face of an individual is represented in image data. In one embodiment, age-estimation techniques involves combining a Contourlet Appearance Model (CAM) for facial-age feature extraction and Support Vector Regression (SVR) for learning aging rules in order to improve the accuracy of age-estimation over the current techniques. In a particular example, characteristics of input facial images are converted to feature vectors by CAM, then these feature vectors are analyzed by an aging-mechanism-based classifier to estimate whether the images represent faces of younger or older people prior to age-estimation, the aging-mechanism-based classifier being generated in one embodiment by running Support Vector Machines (SVM) on training images. In an exemplary binary youth/adult classifier, faces classified as adults are passed to an adult age-estimation function and the others are passed to a youth age-estimation function.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A method of generating a face age-estimation for a face represented by first image data as a function of faces represented by second image data and having assigned landmark points and known ages, the method comprising:

receiving, by a face age-estimation system, the first image data;
applying, by the face age-estimation system, a contourlet appearance model (CAM) algorithm to the first image data so as to generate a first feature vector;
executing, by the face age-estimation system, an age classifier on the first feature vector so as to identify an estimated age group for the face represented by the first image data as a function of the assigned landmark points of the second image data;
and
applying, by the face age-estimation system, an aging function to the first feature vector so as to generate the face age-estimation as a function of the assigned landmark points of the second image data.

2 more elements

A machine-readable storage medium containing machine executable instructions for performing a method of generating a face age-estimation for a face represented by first image data as a function of faces represented by second image data and having assigned landmark points and known ages, said machine-executable instructions comprising:

a first set of machine-executable instructions for receiving the first image data;
a second set of machine-executable instructions for applying a contourlet appearance model (CAM) algorithm to the first image data so as to generate a first feature vector;
a third set of machine-executable instructions for executing an age classifier on the first feature vector so as to identify an estimated age group for the face represented by the first image data as a function of the assigned landmark points of the second image data;
and
a fourth set of machine-executable instructions for applying an aging function to the first feature vector so as to generate the face age-estimation as a function of the assigned landmark points of the second image data.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Face age-estimation and methods, systems, and software therefor

Life of this patent

Face age-estimation and methods, systems, and software therefor

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36