Imaging support apparatus, imaging support method, and computer program product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10212336-B2
Application number	US-201615260669-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2016
Priority date	Mar 17, 2016
Publication date	Feb 19, 2019
Grant date	Feb 19, 2019

Abstract

According to an embodiment, an imaging support apparatus includes a memory and a processor. The processor acquires a plurality of images obtained by imaging a face of a subject by a plurality of imaging devices. The processor extracts a face area from each of the plurality of images. The processor specifies a certain imaging device as an imaging device suitable for imaging the face of the subject face among the plurality of imaging devices based on a position of the face area in each of the plurality of images. The processor causes a suggestion device to suggest a direction toward which the face of the subject is to be directed for imaging the face of the subject by the certain imaging device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An imaging support apparatus comprising:
a memory; and
a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to:
acquire a plurality of images obtained by imaging a face of a subject by a plurality of imaging devices;
extract a face area from each of the plurality of images;
specify a certain imaging device as an imaging device suitable for imaging the face of the subject face among the plurality of imaging devices based at least in part on a position of the face area in each of the plurality of images; and
cause a suggestion device to suggest a direction toward which the face of the subject is to be directed for imaging the face of the subject by the certain imaging device, wherein
the processor is further configured to specify the certain imaging device which captures an image in which a distance between a center of the image and a center of the face area is shortest as the imaging device suitable for imaging the face of the subject.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the suggestion device includes a plurality of light emitters respectively associated with the plurality of imaging devices, and
in causing, the processor is configured to cause the light emitter associated with the certain imaging device to emit light.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the suggestion device includes a plurality of light emitters, and
in causing, the processor is configured to cause the light emitter located in the direction toward which the face of the subject is to be directed to emit light.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of imaging devices are respectively associated with pieces of identification information for identifying the imaging devices, and
in causing, the processor is configured to cause the suggestion device to present the identification information associated with the certain imaging device.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
a plurality of pieces of identification information are provided in the periphery of the plurality of imaging devices, and
in causing, the processor is configured to cause the suggestion device to suggest the identification information located in the direction toward which the face of the subject is directed for imaging the face of the subject by the certain imaging device.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
in causing, the processor is configured to cause the suggestion device to suggest to the subject to direct the face toward the certain imaging device.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of imaging devices are arranged in a vertical direction.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
acquire a recognition image captured by the certain imaging device after the suggestion of the suggestion device,
extract a face area from the recognition image,
acquire a face information of a collation source person,
collate a face on the face area based on the face information, and
recognize whether the subject is the collation source person.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein
the processor is further configured to determine whether the face area is suitable for the collation based on the face area, and
in recognizing, the processor is configured to, when the face area is suitable for the collation, recognize whether the subject is the collation source person.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the processor is further configured to determine whether the face area is suitable for collation based on the face area extracted from the image captured by the certain imaging device; and
the processor is configured to:
in acquiring the face information, when the face area is suitable for the collation, acquire face information of a collation source person,
in collating, collate a face on the face area based on the face information, and
in recognizing, recognize whether the subject is the collation source person.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
the plurality of imaging devices: and
the suggestion device.

12. An imaging support method comprising:
acquiring a plurality of images obtained by imaging a face of a subject by a plurality of imaging devices;
extracting a face area from each of the plurality of images;
specifying a certain imaging device as an imaging device suitable for imaging the face of the subject among the plurality of imaging devices based on a position of the face area in each of the plurality of images; and
causing a suggestion device to suggest a direction toward which the face of the subject is to be directed for imaging the face of the subject by the certain imaging device, wherein
the specifying includes specifying the certain imaging device which captures an image in which a distance between a center of the image and a center of the face area is shortest as the imaging device suitable for imaging the face of the subject.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein
the suggestion device includes a plurality of light emitters respectively associated with the plurality of imaging devices, and
the causing includes causing the light emitter associated with the certain imaging device to emit light.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein
the suggestion device includes a plurality of light emitters, and
the causing includes causing the light emitter located in the direction toward which the face of the subject is to be directed to emit light.

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein
the plurality of imaging devices are respectively associated with pieces of identification information for identifying the imaging devices, and
the causing includes causing the suggestion device to present the identification information associated with the certain imaging device.

16. The method according to claim 12 , wherein
a plurality of pieces of identification information are provided in the periphery of the plurality of imaging devices, and
the causing includes causing the suggestion device to suggest the identification information located in the direction toward which the face of the subject is directed for imaging the face of the subject by the certain imaging device.

17. The method according to claim 12 , wherein
the causing includes causing the suggestion device to suggest to the subject to direct the face toward the certain imaging device.

18. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of imaging devices are arranged in a vertical direction.

19. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
acquiring a recognition image captured by the certain imaging device after the suggestion of the suggestion device,
extracting a face area from the recognition image,
acquiring a face information of a collation source person,
collating a face on the face area based on the face information, and
recognizing whether the subject is the collation source person.

20. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium including programmed instructions, the instructions causing a computer to perform:
acquiring a plurality of images obtained by imaging a face of a subject by a plurality of imaging devices;
extracting a face area from each of the plurality of images;
specifying a certain imaging device as an imaging device suitable for imaging the face of the subject among the plurality of imaging devices based on a position of the face

Assignees

• Toshiba Kk

Inventors

• Kawahara Tomokazu
• Yamaguchi Osamu

Classifications

• H04N23/64

  Computer-aided capture of images, e.g. transfer from script file into camera, check of taken image quality, advice or proposal for image composition or decision on when to take image · CPC title

• G06V40/169 Primary

  Holistic features and representations, i.e. based on the facial image taken as a whole · CPC title

• H04N23/45

  for generating image signals from two or more image sensors being of different type or operating in different modes, e.g. with a CMOS sensor for moving images in combination with a charge-coupled device [CCD] for still images · CPC title

• H04N23/611

  where the recognised objects include parts of the human body · CPC title

• H04N23/90

  Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums · CPC title