Abstract: A method of utilizing a computer system to automatically detect the location of a face within a series of images, the method comprising the steps of: detecting eye like regions within the series of images; utilizing the eye like regions to extract potential face regions within the series of images; enhancing the facial features in the extracted potential face regions; classifying the features; and verifying the face topology within the potential face regions.

Abstract: This invention concerns a method for detecting shapes in image data. In particular but not exclusively the method concerns the detection of regular polygons in scanline data. The method includes identifying intensity gradient vectors in the image. Then each point at an identified intensity gradient is considered to be on the side of the shape. Voting is then performed for possible centres of the shape that are in the direction of the gradient intensity vector. The centre of that shape is determined from the votes. In further aspects the invention concerns software and computers programmed to perform the method.

Abstract: A method of utilizing a computer system to automatically detect the location of a face within a series of images, the method comprising the steps of: detecting eye like regions within the series of images; utilizing the eye like regions to extract potential face regions within the series of images; enhancing the facial features in the extracted potential face regions; classifying the features; and verifying the face topology within the potential face regions.