Patent ID: 7272267
Filing Date: 2007-09-18
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image processing method for obtaining a layout image signal representing a layout image, in which a plurality of person images are laid out, from a plurality of original image signals, each of the original image signals representing a person image, in which a face pattern of a person is embedded, the method comprising the steps of: i) detecting a face candidate region from each of the original image signals, said face candidate region representing a position and/or a size of the face pattern of the person in the person image represented by each original image signal; ii) performing a pattern matching process for each face pattern represented by said detected face candidate region to calculate an amount of displacement and/or a size difference thereof from a predetermined reference image; iii) performing a face pattern normalizing process on each of the original image signals based on said detected face candidate region and said calculated amount of displacement and/or the size difference such that a center position having coordinates (x, y) in the face pattern embedded in the person image is transformed into a center position having coordinates (x0, y0) in the predetermined reference image, a plurality of normalized image signals being obtained from said face pattern normalizing process; and iv) laying out a plurality of images, which are represented by said normalized image signals, in a predetermined layout such that the plurality of image signals are laid out side by side, whereby the layout image signal representing the thus formed layout image is obtained.