TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a gaze estimation device and the like.

BACKGROUND ART

A gaze (an orientation of an eye) of a human can be an important clue to analyze action or intention of a person. Thus, a technique for estimating information relating to a gaze of a human, particularly, a technique for estimating a gaze, based on an image (hereinafter, also referred to as a “face image”) including a face of a human is widely studied.

As techniques for estimating a gaze, based on a face image, there are, for example, techniques described in PTLs 1 to 3, and NPLs 1 to 2. PTL 1 discloses one example of feature-based methods using a feature (image feature) included in an image. Further, PTL 2 and NPL 2 each disclose one example of appearance-based methods utilizing appearance of an object. NPL 1 discloses a method of estimating a gaze by approximating a shape of an iris of a pupil with an ellipse.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

[PTL 1] Japanese Patent No. 4829141[PTL 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-059257[PTL 3] Japanese Patent No. 5772821

Non Patent Literature

[NPL 1] J. Wang, E. Sung, and R. Venkateswarlu, “Eye Gaze Estimation from a Single Image of One Eye,” Proc. IEEE ICCV 2003, pp. 1-136-143, 2003.[NPL 2] X. Zhang, Y. Sugano, M. Fritz and A. Bulling, “Appearance-Based Gaze Estimation in the Wild,” Proc. IEEE CVPR 2015, pp. 4511-4520, 2015.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

As described above, various methods are used for gaze estimation, and each have a characteristic. However, each of the methods has a possibility of deteriorating in accuracy of estimation, when an orientation of a face, brightness of illumination, and the like are under a particular condition.

An exemplary object of the present disclosure is to provide a technique for improving accuracy of gaze estimation based on an image.

Solution to Problem

In one aspect, there is provided a gaze estimation device, including: an estimation means for estimating a gaze of a face included in a face image with a plurality of estimators; and a determination means for determining a gaze of the face, based on first condition information including a condition relating to capture of the face image, a plurality of pieces of second condition information each including the condition associated with one of the plurality of estimators, and the estimated plurality of gazes.

In another aspect, there is provided a gaze estimation method, including: estimating a gaze of a face included in a face image with a plurality of estimators; and determining a gaze of the face, based on first condition information including a condition relating to capture of the face image, a plurality of pieces of second condition information each including the condition associated with one of the plurality of estimators, and the estimated plurality of gazes.

In still another aspect, there is provided a computer-readable program recording medium recording a program which causes a computer to execute: processing of estimating a gaze of a face included in a face image with a plurality of estimators; and processing of determining a gaze of the face, based on first condition information including a condition relating to capture of the face image, a plurality of pieces of second condition information each including the condition associated with one of the plurality of estimators, and the estimated plurality of gazes.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present disclosure, accuracy of gaze estimation based on an image is improved.

