Patent Document ID: 8363908
Application ID: 11744020
Patent Status: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for providing separation between foreground and background regions in a digital image of a scene, comprising: using a processor-based digital image acquisition device including a processor programmed by processor-readable code embedded within one or more digital storage media; providing a first map comprising two or more regions within a main digital image, each having one or more pixels with a common characteristic; comparing values of a second characteristic of the one or more pixels that varies in accordance with a known relationship to the common characteristic; providing a subject profile corresponding to a region of interest of said main digital image, wherein said providing a subject profile comprises: determining at least one region of said main digital image including a subject's face; determining an orientation of said at least one face within said main digital image; and defining said subject profile as comprising said at least one face region including the subject's face and a respective region below said face region including at least a portion of the subject's neck or shirt, or both, in said main digital image in accordance with said orientation; and wherein the method further comprises: comparing one or more of said one or more regions with said subject profile to determine if any of said one or more of said one or more regions intersect with said subject profile; and designating one or more of said one or more of said one or more regions as a foreground region based on said comparison.