OKI Launches FSE Ver. 4, a Face Recognition Middleware for Embedded Systems

Expands face recognition application by enhancing functions for the surveillance market

TOKYO, July 2008 -- Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. (TSE: 6703) today announced its launch of a face recognition middleware for the surveillance market. The “FSE™ (Face Sensing Engine™) Ver.4” for embedded systems can detect faces and identify specific human beings from surveillance videos. OKI plans to offer an embedded video recognition module with a human tracking function shortly, and when this module is combined with the system, once the face is detected from the video, the system can continue to track that specific person through other features, even when his/her face is not seen on the camera.

The newly launched FSE Ver. 4 will reduce the network load from surveillance systems, which has been a problem when large amounts of video data are sent. Instead of sending massive video data, the new approach can deliver parts of the video or transmit specific images over the network. By combining FSE Ver.4 with an object tracking function, a system can monitor the behavior of an identified person and with the addition of a digital video recorder, data capacity can be reduced while still enabling suspicious figures to be found in the recorded data.

“OKI’s award-winning FSE has been implemented in various applications including digital cameras for auto focusing functions, mobile phones for security and for entertainment-use, etc.,” said Seiji Inoue, General Manager of Human Sensing Venture Unit at OKI. “We are pleased to introduce the FSE Ver. 4, featuring improvements made in response to the needs of the surveillance market. We believe the product will help the market offer more efficient surveillance systems utilizing biometric technology.”

To offer better functions for the surveillance market, OKI made improvements in the following two areas:

1. Enhanced basic functions for the surveillance market:

The FSE Ver.4 can now detect faces faster and capture faces from a broader range of angles to enable face detection from cameras that are mounted at ceiling level, for example. These improvements reduce the network load as the system can select only relevant videos or images to be transmitted over the network.
2. Added an API for expandability

In addition to conventional API, FSE Ver. 4 includes a new API(*1) for expandability, which enhance functions for the surveillance market. OKI will offer a video surveillance solution enabling on-camera face recognition by connecting with video recognition module, which will be launched shortly.

In addition, OKI increased the number of extracting feature points(*2) extracted, thus, enabling more accurate identification of individuals.

OKI will showcase a demonstration using the FSE Ver.4 at the company’s booth (No.B-313) at Wireless Japan 2008, which will be held at Tokyo Big Sight from July 22-24, in Tokyo, Japan.
* FSE is a trademark of Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
* Names of companies and products are trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective companies and organizations.