Patent ID: 8873859

Claim:
An image processing apparatus comprising: a processor comprising: an image input unit configured to input an image; a scanning unit configured to scan the input image with a moving detection window on the input image; a first discrimination unit configured to determine whether a pattern within the detection window contains a predetermined subject based on a plurality of characteristic amounts obtained from a first region corresponding to a specific part of the predetermined subject within the detection window; and a second discrimination unit configured to determine, if it is not determined that the pattern contains the predetermined subject by the first discrimination unit, whether the pattern within the detection window contains the predetermined subject based on a plurality of characteristic amounts obtained from a second region corresponding to the whole of the predetermined subject within the detection window, wherein if the pattern is determined to be the predetermined subject by the first discrimination unit a determination by the second discrimination unit is omitted for the pattern within the detection window, the first region is smaller than the second region and is placed at a predetermined position within the second region, and a probability of occurring occlusion in the first region is lower than that in the second region other than first region.