Patent Document ID: 5490225
Application ID: 08240434
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method of comparing an input image to a stored image, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining multiple photographs of said input image, and adding said multiple photographs together to provide an added input image; (b) determining boundaries of said added input image and erasing information that exists outside said boundaries; (c) obtaining a rough judgment that indicates whether said input image corresponds to said stored image, and if said rough judgment indicates that said input image does not correspond to said stored image, stopping said method; wherein said step of obtaining said rough judgment includes: (1) determining a difference between a maximum diameter of said input image and a maximum diameter of said stored image, and (2) determining no correspondence when said difference between said maximum diameter of said input image and said maximum diameter of said stored image is greater than a predetermined amount; (d) if said rough judgment obtained in step c indicates that said input image does correspond to said stored image then performing additional processing of said input image; and (e) judging characteristics of said input image as processed by said additional processing performed in step d, and determining whether said characteristics of said input image correspond to characteristics of said stored image.